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Fibroadenoma - breast - Symptom

Symptoms:

Lumps may be:

Firm
Moveable
Painless
Rubbery

They should have well-defined borders, but they may grow in size, especially during pregnancy. The lumps often get smaller after menopause (if a woman is not taking hormone replacement therapy).

Signs and tests:

After a careful physical examination, the following tests may be done to determine further information about a breast lump:

Biopsy (needle or open)
Breast ultrasound
Fine needle aspiration
Mammogram
Physical examination

Reviewed last on: 12/31/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Valea FA, Katz VL. Breast diseases: diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant disease. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 15.

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