Breast disorders in adolescent females

This article reviews the recent medical literature on breast disorders in female adolescents. Most of the articles are reviews or case reports, because there is a paucity of primary research, particularly controlled prospective studies, in this area. The papers reviewed are clinically relevant, particularly in the evaluation of an adolescent with a breast mass. The information on early life factors (genetic and acquired) on subsequent risk for breast cancer later in life should be useful in our provision of anticipatory guidance to our adolescent patients regarding their breast cancer risk. The emerging literature on ethical issues raised by BRCA genetic screening is particularly important as we consider testing for our young patients.