A Clinicopathologic Review of Fibroadenoma in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Fibroadenomas have been reported as the most common benign (non-cancerous) tumours of the female breast and are most common in women in their 20s and 30s. The clinical course and diagnosis of fibroadenoma as a benign breast lesion remains favourable except in cases of benign proliferative disease which has increased risk for breast cancer in about 0.01%. This retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of fibroadenoma in female breasts. A six year review of all patients with clinicopathologic diagnosis of fibroadenoma was carried out. A total of 110 cases of fibroadenoma constituting 39.9% of benign breast disease were reported within the study period. The age range of cases was 10-70 years with a peak incidence at 20-29 years. The study showed a high prevalence of fibroadenoma in our centre. Fibroadenoma was the most common benign tumour of female breast in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria. We therefore recommend routine mammographic screening of high risk groups and histologic assessment of all breast lumps. This will aid early detection, intervention and reduction in the associated, though small, incidence of breast cancers.