Related Experiment Videos
The surgical management of pediatric breast masses
Insights
Surgical management of pediatric breast masses, including fibroadenomas and abscesses, is crucial for diagnosis and cosmetic correction. This review found no malignancies, emphasizing surgery
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Surgical management of pediatric breast masses is not well-documented, with existing literature focusing on rare neoplasms.
- This study reviews surgical cases of inflammatory and neoplastic breast masses in children over a 15-year period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the surgical treatment and outcomes of pediatric breast masses.
- To identify common non-malignant breast pathologies in the pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 50 pediatric patients (42 girls, 8 boys) treated surgically for breast masses between 1957 and 1973.
- Histologic diagnosis following surgical excision or incision and drainage.
Main Results:
- No primary malignancies were found among the 50 cases.
- Fibroadenomas were the most common diagnosis (33 patients), with four having multiple masses.
- Cellulitis with underlying breast abscesses occurred in 13 patients, with gram-negative organisms identified in one-third of these cases.
Conclusions:
- Surgery is indicated for pediatric breast masses to establish diagnosis, alleviate patient/family concerns, and correct cosmetic deformities.
- Surgical intervention, including drainage, aids in resolving inflammatory processes and guides appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Abstract:
Information regarding the surgical management of breast masses in the pediatric age group is sparse and is primarily directed at unusual neoplasms. We have reviewed the surgical treatment of 50 patients with inflammatory and neoplastic breast masses occurring in a 15-year period (1957 to 1973) at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. There were 42 girls and 8 boys, ranging in age from 12 days to 18 years. All patients had either surgical excision or incision and drainage of the masses with a subsequent histologic diagnosis. A variety of pathologic entities were encountered, but there were no primary malignancies. There were 33 patients with fibroadenomas, including four patients with multiple masses. Thirteen patients, six of whom were male, had cellulitis with an underlying breast abscess. The offending organism was gram-negative in one third of these abscesses. While none of the masses in this series were malignant, surgery was indicated to (1) establish diagnosis, (2) allay fears of patient, family, and referring physician, and (3) correct an obvious cosmetic deformity. Surgical drainage encouraged resolution of the inflammatory process, aided in the recovery of the organism, and assured appropriate drug therapy.