Common non-cancerous breast tumors

There are many breast lesions which women commonly, at some point in their life, which have nothing to do with cancer, but rather with normal biological processes. Sometimes these miscellaneous lesions produce symtoms such as discharge, a soar, tenderness, and in some cases a lump, which can cause initial anxiety about a potential breast cancer. Many miscellaneous, benign, breast lesions are detected during breast cancer screening mammography which raise may raise concern about breast cancer, which is quickly ruled out by follow up imaging studies or biopsy.

Fibrous (fibroepithelial) breast tumors

Fibroepithelial lesions of the breast are commonly seen in clinical practice. The masses are composed of a combination of prominent stroma and varying glandular elements

1. Breast fibrocystic disease
2. Breast fibrosis
3. Gynecomastia; differential diagnosis in breast cancer screening in men.

Other miscellaneous breast lesions

Sometimes women can develop a variety of breast conditions as a result of normal biological changes, such as pregnancy, complications following surgery, or simply due to anatomical structures which are not functioning properly for no particular reason.

1. Hematoma
2. Breast cellulitis
3. Fat necrosis of the breast
4. Radiation induced skin reactions; radio-dermatitis
5. Breast seroma
6. Lipoma of the breast
7. Collagenous Spherulosis of the breast
8. Mucinous Spherulosis of the breast
9. duct ectasia
10. Perdicutal Mastitis, as a unique category of duct ectasia.
11. Lymphoma of the breast

 

Breast Cysts and Abscesses

A large percentage of women seeking evaluation for a breast lump are diagnosed with simplly with a breast cyst or abscess. Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs within the breast, and can be quite painful. Cysts tend to be caused by normal hormonal fluctuations associated with menstruation, and are very uncommon in older women. Breast abscesses are small pockets of infection, and are quite common for women who breast feed.

1. Breast Cysts
2. Complex cystic breast mass
3. Breast mastitis
4. Epidermoid breast cysts
5. Breast sebaceous cyst
6. Galactoceles of the breast
7. breast abscess
8. Clustered microcysts of the breast
9. Pilar breast cyst
10. Zuska's disease- a form of breast mastitis

 

Calcifications and other cellullar breast changes

Calcifications are frequently visible on breast mammograms, which can raise concerns about potential breast cancers. While it is true that certain patterns of microcalcifications are caused by breast carcinoma, they are more likely to be caused by normal, benign, biological processes.

1. Breast tissue microcalcification
2. Dystrophic breast calcifications
3. Vascular calcifications in the breast
4. Epidermal and dermal breast calcifications

 

 

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Copyright Steven B. Halls, MD Last edited 14-August-2011