Benign breast disease

This is the most common cause of breast problems — up to 30 per cent of women will suffer from a benign breast disorder requiring treatment at some time in their lives. The most common symptoms are pain, lumpiness or a lump. The aim of treatment is to exclude cancer and, once this has been done, to treat any remaining symptoms.

Benign breast disorders can be classified in the following way:

  ANDI1 (lumpy breasts, tenderness or a smooth lump):

cyclical nodularity and mastalgia, cysts, fibroadenoma;

  duct ectasia/periductal mastitis;

  pregnancy related:

galactocoele,

peurperal abscess;

  congenital disorders:

inverted nipple,

supernumary breasts/nipples;

  nonbreast disorders:

Tietze’s disease;

sebaceous cysts and other skin conditions.