Breast diseases in adolescents

Abstract

Fibroadenomas and breast growth disorders are the most common breast diseases in adolescent women. Assessment of breast disorders in this age group generally involves clinical evaluation through history and physical examination and when is needed ultrasonography. Due to the absence of breast cancer in adolescent women, it is easy to reassure women at the first consultation. Breast growth disorders can lead great psychological and physical embarrassment. Treatment consists of surgical procedures when the cosmetic defect is severe. According to the ANDI classification, small fibroadenomas are normal, clinical fibroadenomas are a mild aberration of the normal processes, and giant or multiple fibroadenomas are placed to the disease end of the spectrum. Fibroadenomas can be treated conservatively provided diagnosis is confident. Giant fibroadenomas are treated by surgical enucleation. Breast abscess is mainly due to the duct ectasia. In adolescence, ectasia has been described as an exaggeration of sinus duct development and can be considered as a variant of normality. Diseases of the adolescent breast are usually benign and their management are simple using medical strategy and more rarely surgical therapy.