The term benign breast conditions, also known as benign breast disease, describes many noncancerous disorders that can affect the breast. Your health care provider may also use the term fibrocystic changes to describe a range of benign breast conditions. Some cause discomfort or pain and need treatment. Others are of little concern and need no medical attention. However, many breast conditions mimic the symptoms of cancer and need tests and sometimes a biopsy for diagnosis. Though the thought of cancer is scary, most biopsies find a benign breast condition, not cancer (for more on detecting and diagnosing breast conditions, see the Early Detection and Screening and Diagnosis sections).
Some common benign breast conditions are hyperplasia, cysts and fibroadenomas. Benign breast conditions differ from each other in how the cells look under a microscope. For example, cyst cells look different from hyperplasia cells. If you are diagnosed with a benign breast condition (or are told you have a fibrocystic change), it is important to find out which type you have. While benign breast conditions are not breast cancer, some types increase risk.
Hormonal factors, such as the use of postmenopausal hormones, can increase the risk of benign breast conditions [29,30]. One study found that women with high fiber intake and those with high vitamin E intake had lower risks of benign breast conditions compared to those with low intakes [31]. A family history of breast cancer appears to increase risk of benign breast conditions [32]. And, women with a family history of breast cancer who have a benign breast condition appear to have an increased the risk of breast cancer compared to those without a family history [33].
Hyperplasia
Hyperplasia describes an excess buildup (sometimes called proliferation) of cells. It is most often found on the inside of the lobules or ducts in the breast. Hyperplasia usually occurs among women in their 20s and often is associated with breast pain [34]. There are two main types of hyperplasia—usual and atypical. Both raise the risk of breast cancer, though atypical hyperplasia does so to a greater degree [33,35]. For more on this, see the Risk Factors and Prevention section.
Cysts
Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that are almost always benign. Often they can be left alone, or, if painful, they can be drained of fluid (aspirated). They may also be drained if they are palpable (can be felt) and might interfere with a clinical exam. Up to a third of women between the ages of 35 and 50 have cysts in their breasts. Most cysts are too small to feel and can be found only with ultrasound.
However, if cysts are large enough, they may feel like lumps in the breast. And sometimes, they can cause pain and nipple discharge [34]. Cysts may come back even after being aspirated. If this happens, you may want to have them removed. Cysts are more common in women as they approach menopause, but they do not increase the risk of breast cancer. After menopause, cysts occur less often.
At this time, we don’t know what causes cysts to develop. Some researchers have suggested that dietary factors, such as caffeine intake, might increase the risk of cysts. However, few data support a link between cysts and either diet or lifestyle factors [36]. For more information on detecting and diagnosing cysts, see the Early Detection and Screening section.
Fibroadenomas
Fibroadenomas are solid benign tumors. They are most common in younger women. In younger women, they are usually left alone because they are not linked to an increased breast cancer risk [37]. However, if a fibroadenoma is large or causes discomfort, you may want to have it removed. And, in older women, fibroadenomas are often removed to be sure they are not cancer. For more information on detecting and diagnosing fibroadenomas, see the Early Detection and Screening section.
Intraductal papillomas
Intraductal papillomas are small masses that occur in the ducts of the breasts. They may appear with nipple discharge [37]. There are two types of intraductal papillomas—solitary and multiple (or peripheral). Solitary intraductal papillomas most often occur among women in their 30s and 40s [34]. They do not increase the risk of breast cancer unless they have abnormal cells [34]. Multiple intraductal papillomas occur among even younger women and are related to a small increase in breast cancer risk [34,37].
Sclerosing adenosis
Sclerosing adenosis is composed of small breast nodules [37]. It is most common in women in their 30s [34]. Although sclerosing adenosis is a benign condition, it may increase the risk of atypical hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) [37].
Radial scars
Radial scars have a core of connective tissue fibers. Ducts and lobules grow out from this core. They are found most often during a biopsy on a breast tumor removed for other reasons [37,38]. They can look like breast cancer on a mammogram, but they are not cancer. Although some studies have found that radial scars increase the risk of breast cancer, this may be because they are typically found alongside an existing tumor [34,39].
Benign phyllodes tumor
Phyllodes tumors are similar to fibroadenomas and mostly occur in women younger than 50 [37]. These tumors are rare, comprising less than one percent of all breast tumors in women. There are several sub-types. More than half of all phyllodes tumors are benign phyllodes tumor, the least aggressive sub-types [37]. Because phyllodes tumors are so rare, it is unclear whether or not they increase the risk of breast cancer [37]. For information on malignant phyllodes tumor, visit the Diagnosis section.
Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis/ductitis (diabetic mastopathy, lymphocytic mastitis)
Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (also called diabetic mastopathy and lymphocytic mastitis) are benign breast masses that most often appear in women with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes [37,40]. These tumors are small, hard masses that appear in the ducts (lymphocytic ductitis) or the lobules (lymphocytic lobulitis) [37]. They do not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer [40].
Benign breast conditions can also occur in men. For information on male breast health, visit Breast Facts for Men.
Updated 11/11/09
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