Benign Conditions of the Breast

Question 1

Discuss glandular tissue and ducts

Answer 1

• Lined by a characteristic epithelium with 2 layers; inner (luminal) and outer (myoepithelial)

Question 2

Discuss ectopic breast tissue

Answer 2

• Commonest congenital breast abnormality

Question 3

What is breast hypoplasia associated with?

Answer 3

• Ulnar-mammary syndrome
• Poland’s syndrome
• Turner’s syndrome
• CAH

Question 4

What leads to macromastia?

Answer 4

• Stromal overgrowth

Question 5

What conditions is granulomatous inflammation of breast tissue associated with?

Answer 5

• Sarcoidosis

- Tuberculosis

Question 6

What is idiopathic granulomatous mastitis

Answer 6

• Lobule centred non-necrotising granulomatous inflammatory process with a tendency for recurrence after excision

Question 7

Describe periductal mastitis/duct ectasia

Answer 7

• Dilation of central lactiferous ducts
• Periductal chronic inflammation and scarring
• Often asymptomatic but can present with discomfort, a mass, nipple retraction or inversion

Question 8

How is fibrocystic change classified?

Answer 8

• Non-proliferative
• Proliferative without atypia
• Proliferative with atypia

Question 9

What is adenosis?

Answer 9

• Increase in glandular breast tissue

Question 10

Describe apocrine metaplasia

Answer 10

• Large, rounded epithelial cells with copious, granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and characteristic apical projections

Question 11

Describe epithelial hyperplasia

Answer 11

• Monotonous and has features in common with DCIS

Question 12

What are radial scars?

Answer 12

• Benign lesions characterised by a fibrotic and elastotic core, trapped glands and a pseudo-infiltrative appearance

Question 13

What are fibroadenomas?

Answer 13

• Overgrowth of epithelium and stroma, resembling a giant lobule