Breast Benign Findings and Disease

Patients often seek the opinion of physicians for benign breast conditions, because of substantial concern about cancer. It is important that general surgeons are armed with the necessary information to thoroughly evaluate and treat benign breast conditions. In this chapter, the more common benign breast complaints and benign breast pathology are reviewed and appropriate management is discussed. The workup and management of masses, cysts, breast pain, nipple discharge, fibrocystic changes, various fibroepithelial lesions (including fibroadenoma) will be reviewed. Borderline lesions including atypical hyperplasias radial scars, and lobular neoplasia will also be discussed with special attention directed to the comparative risks of upgrade to malignancy and the need for surgical excision.  Gynecomastia will also be reviewed, along with the various causes, treatments and distinctions from malignancy. Lastly, we will review the management of breast infections and inflammatory conditions, as well as more uncommon breast lesions. This review contains 11 figures, 6 tables, and 38 references. Key Words: Breast masses, Breast pain/Mastalgia, Nipple Discharge, Fibrocystic Changes, LCIS, Radial Scar, Atypical Hyperplasia, Lobular neoplasia, Papillomas, gynecomastia