Benign Breast Disease in Women

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Most clinical breast changes are benign, affecting only 3-6% of cases with breast cancer.
• There's a need for updated, evidence-based treatment recommendations for benign breast conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature and guidelines for diagnosing and managing benign breast changes.
• To highlight the importance of differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions.

Main Methods:

• A selective literature search of PubMed (1985-2019) was conducted.
• Current national (AWMF) and international guidelines were included.

Main Results:

• Mastalgia and fibrocystic changes are common (50% over 30); fibroadenomas (25%) are the most common benign tumors and usually require no treatment.
• Distinguishing benign from malignant changes is crucial; complex cysts (23-31% malignancy risk), papillary lesions (16%), and radial scars (7%) require careful evaluation.
• Percutaneous biopsy is recommended for histological confirmation when malignancy is suspected.

Conclusions:

• Benign and malignant breast lesions can be differentiated using diagnostic tools and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Complete excision is recommended for lesions with uncertain malignant potential (B3 classification).
• Further prospective studies are needed for early breast cancer detection in high-risk lesions.