Breast disorders in adolescence: Etiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects

Introduction. Breast diseases in adolescents are rare and generally benign, although their treatment can be complex. Objective. To describe the etiology, clinical presentation, and therapeutic management of adolescents with breast conditions at a tertiary care hospital. Population and methods. Retrospective case series study. The study included patients aged 10 to 18 years with suspected breast pathology who were treated between 2020 and 2024. Clinical and treatment data, as well as information on comorbidities, were collected. Results. A total of 127 patients were analyzed (median age: 16 years); 80 were female. In females, benign tumors predominated, primarily fibroadenomas, and 29 required surgery. In males, pubertal gynecomastia was the most common finding (n = 33), and secondary cases associated with hypogonadism or medication use were identified; 11 required surgery. Conclusion. Fibroadenomas were most common in girls, and gynecomastia in boys. The identification of secondary causes underscores the need for a comprehensive evaluation and targeted treatment.