What are benign breast diseases?
The term “benign breast diseases” is used to describe a heterogeneous group of breast lesions that can present as a wide range of symptoms from mastalgia, breast lump, nipple discharge to mastitis or can be incidental finding on breast imaging. 90% of patients present with these symptoms will have a benign diagnosis. As oppose to malignant disease, incidence of benign breast diseases begins to rise during second decade of life and peaks in the fourth and fifth decades. Benign breast diseases can be summarized into developmental abnormalities, inflammatory, fibrocystic changes, stromal lesions and neoplasm. Some of these benign lesions are risk factors for subsequent development of breast cancer.
With findings of abnormality in your breast imaging, the next common step of investigation is a recommendation for biopsy. In addition to histopathology result of biopsy, the age at diagnosis of benign breast diseases and degree of family history are considered to be major determinants of breast cancer risk It is therefore important for you to have a comprehensive investigation and management plan for breast symptoms to allay fear and to provide accurate diagnosis and to assess one’s risk of breast cancer.