A Prospective Observational Study of Breast Lumps in Adolescent Girls: Tertiary Care South Indian Teaching Hospital Experience

Clinicopathological pattern of breast lesions in children and adolescents

Background

Breast lesions are not common in children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to retrospectively survey the clinicopathological pattern of breast lesions in children and adolescents in our setting.

Materials and method

This is a retrospective study of all breast specimens from children and adolescents that were histopathologically diagnosed in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

Results

The youngest patients seen were 11 years old, with mean age of 17.1 ± 1.91. The commonest clinical diagnoses were fibroadenoma (n=134, 72.4%). Thirty-five-point seven percent of the patients presented within 6 months of noticing the lump. The mean size of the lumps was 6.2cm ± 3.9. Fibroadenoma was the most common benign diagnosis and the most common histopathologic diagnosis in this study. The mean age of patients with fibroadenoma was 17.15±1.83.

Conclusion

The pattern of breast lesions in adolescents in Uyo is similar to that from other parts of Nigeria.

Breast development and disorders in children and adolescents

Breast masses are infrequently encountered in pediatric and adolescent populations. Most breast masses in children are benign entities arising from embryological defects which can be managed once breast development is complete. Diagnostic and management dilemmas arise when fibroepithelial lesions of the breast are seen in clinical practice. Differentiation between a fibroadenoma and a phyllodes tumor is important to guide management. Breast cancer in children under 18 years of age is extremely rare and invasive diagnostic testing and aggressive management is only recommended when clinical suspicion of malignancy is very high. Patient and caregiver counseling plays an important role in the management of these diseases. While adult-onset breast diseases have been studied very closely, there is a dearth of literature on pediatric breast anomalies. This review aims to provide a scoping overview of the available literature on benign, fibroepithelial, and malignant lesions of the breast in pediatric and adolescent populations to help guide physicians and surgeons with decision-making regarding the diagnosis and management of pediatric breast diseases.