Giant juvenile fibroadenoma: experience from a rural medical college

Background and aims: Fibroadenoma is one of the most typical benign breast lesions in our outpatient clinics. Giant Juvenile fibroadenoma (GJF), characterized by its alarming rapid growth and gross disfigurement, is less frequently identified. Material and methods: All fibroadenomas presented to the Outpatient Department from 2011 to 2016 were undertaken. Demographic data, duration of symptoms, size at presentation were noted. For diagnosis, radiological, cytological and histo-pathological modalities were used. Patients were treated by surgical excision and followed up. Three- Hundred-Ninety-Four cases were diagnosed as fibroadenoma by both clinical and radiological examinations and confirmed by FNAC. Patients with fibroadenomas <2cm in size were followed up regularly in the outpatients’ department, while those >2cm underwent surgical excision. GJF were defined as those with >5cm in diameter. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Studies (SPSS) version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). Prior ethical clearance was taken from the institute's ethics committee. Informed consent was taken from the participants before the collection of the data. Results: The total number of excised fibroadenomas was 92(23%). GJF was diagnosed in 4 patients accounting for 4.3% of all excised fibroadenomas. Age ranged between 14-23 years. Conclusion: However benign these lesions may appear, because of the history of a sudden rapid breast enlargement as demonstrated in nearly all the clinical presentations, surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment of such lesions to allow the previously compressed normal surrounding breast tissue to expand and retain its normal function and cosmetic appearance. Radiological modalities such as ultrasound and MRI may aid the diagnosis, limiting mammography to the older age group.