Breast disorders in the female adolescent

Breast disorders in the adolescent female can cause significant anxiety for the patient and her family and pose a clinical challenge for her health care provider. Care and consideration given to the emotions of the patient and family, as well as minimizing trauma and injury to the developing breast, are paramount. This article addresses the gamut of concerns that involve the adolescent breast. As benign breast disease is the most common breast disorder, conservative management should be entertained whenever possible. Patients should be referred to providers comfortable in treating the adolescent patient with breast disease or concerns.