“From birth to puberty: the main physio-pathological changes of the mammary gland during childhood and adolescence, described and illustrated”

Abstract

Under hormonal stimulation, from birth to puberty, various normal and abnormal changes in the mammary gland occur, and pediatric patients may sometimes present with significant breast changes. Many conditions are physiological and transient; however, they can cause anxiety and concern. Some of them, although less common, may involve a non-physiological process or a latent disease, therefore, timely diagnosis is essential to prevent complications that can lead to permanent consequences. The objective of this review is to provide a systematic description of the clinical and radiological characteristics of the most common breast disorders during childhood and puberty, in order to help formulate a correct differential diagnosis and promptly intervene if necessary. A set of illustrations relating to the conditions described is supplied to complete the document, mainly ultrasound images but not only, which can support the professional in clinical practice. The main literature on pediatric breast (reviews and case reports) published over the past twenty-five years was examined, using as keywords “breast development,” “pediatric breast,” “breast enlargement”; “neonatal mastitis”; “infantile breast/mammary ductal ectasia”; “gynecomastia”; “isolated premature thelarche”; “central precocious puberty”; “breast asymmetry”; “breast ductal ectasia”; “juvenile breast hypertrophy”; “fibrocystic changes”; “fibroadenoma”. A careful physical examination, combined with a targeted ultrasound evaluation, in most cases allows for a correct diagnosis of the breast pathology in childhood and adolescence; appropriate laboratory tests may be necessary. Furthermore, ultrasound examination may help avoid unnecessary worry, and set aside unnecessary invasive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.