From the Guidelines
Fibroadenomas can indeed grow, and their growth is often influenced by hormonal factors, particularly estrogen. These benign breast lumps are composed of glandular and fibrous tissue and typically develop during a woman's reproductive years. While fibroadenomas often remain stable in size, they can grow, particularly during pregnancy, lactation, or hormonal changes 1. Growth is usually slow, but occasionally they may grow rapidly. Most fibroadenomas range from 1-3 cm in size, though some can grow larger than 5 cm (called giant fibroadenomas).
Some key points to consider about fibroadenomas include:
- They are not cancerous and don't increase breast cancer risk significantly 1
- Any noticeable growth in a breast lump should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to confirm it's not something more serious
- Regular monitoring through clinical exams and imaging may be recommended for fibroadenomas, especially if they're growing
- Clinical suspicion of phyllodes tumor, which can be similar to fibroadenoma, should be considered if there is rapid growth, large size, or suggestive imaging findings 1
- Excisional biopsy may be necessary to distinguish fibroadenoma from phyllodes tumor in some cases 1
It's essential to note that while fibroadenomas can grow, they are generally benign and do not pose a significant risk to health. However, any changes or growth in a breast lump should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out more serious conditions.
From the Research
Fibroadenoma Growth
- Fibroadenomas are the most common benign breast lesions in women and can rapidly enlarge in size through hormonal changes 2.
- They can be classified as small or giant, and as simple or complex, with giant fibroadenomas causing compression of surrounding breast tissue or breast asymmetry 2.
- A study found that fibroadenomas can grow up to 2-3 cm and then stop growing, but phyllodes tumors, which arise from the same tissue, can grow continually and reach sizes of up to 40 cm 3.
- Another study found that enlarging biopsy-proven fibroadenomas are not associated with malignancy, and surgical excision may not be warranted 4.
- However, a study on the long-term outcome of benign fibroadenomas treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous excision found that lesions larger than 2 cm are prone to recurrence and require additional treatment 5.
- A study on solid breast masses diagnosed as fibroadenoma at fine-needle aspiration biopsy found that acceptable rates of growth at long-term follow-up are less than 16% per month in those younger than 50 years and less than 13% per month in those 50 years or older 6.
Factors Affecting Growth
- Hormonal changes can cause fibroadenomas to rapidly enlarge in size 2.
- The size of the fibroadenoma at initial presentation can affect the likelihood of recurrence, with lesions larger than 2 cm being more prone to recurrence 5.
- The growth rate of fibroadenomas can be affected by the patient's age, with younger patients having a higher acceptable growth rate 6.
Clinical Implications
- Timely surgical intervention may be necessary to prevent permanent breast tissue damage in cases of rapidly growing fibroadenomas 2.
- Core biopsy should be performed to exclude associated atypia or phyllodes tumor in cases of enlarging fibroadenomas 4.
- Surgical excision may be indicated for lesions with associated atypia or suspected phyllodes, as well as for symptomatic lesions or cosmetic reasons 4.