breast masses in adolescent patients in iran

breast masses in adoles c ent are common. in ma l e s , almost all are g ynecomast i a . surgical intervention may be required for cosmetic and psycologic reasons. there app e a r s to be little risk of malignancy in these patients. in females, fibroadenoma are the most common breast masse s . there are benign neoplasms that should be remove d if presistent. fibroadenomas increase in frequen cy with age during adolescence.careful observation and reassurance followed by surgical e x c i s i o n if the mass persists is r e c ommended. norris a nd taylor in a s e r ies o f 24 c a s es of c y stosarcomas phyl lodes encountere d 3 cases b e i ng before 20 yea rs of age. this is in contrast to our f i ndi ng o f so high incidnece (8 cases between 12-20 years of age) . (~)