Giant Fibroadenoma of Breast: A Diagnostic Dilemma in a Middle Aged Woman

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com postmenopausal women, especially those receiving estrogen replacement therapy has been documented [3]. Giant (juvenile or cellular) fibroadenoma is a rare variant of fibroadenoma accounting for 0.5-2 per cent of all cases of fibroadenomas [4] and is characterized by its large size and rapid growth [5]. This subtype has been also been defined as fibroadenoma with size larger than 5 cm and/or weight of more than 500 grams [6]. Most commonly it is seen in females of Afro-Caribbean or East Asian descent and have a bimodal age distribution with occurrence typically either in adolescent or premenopausal women [7]. Increased estrogen stimulus and receptor sensitivity and a decrease in estrogen antagonist levels during puberty are thought to be the basis of its etiology [2,8]. This rare entity is of great importance as this may not only cause asymmetrical breasts, stretching and displacement of the nipple-areola complex, congestion and ulceration of skin by centrifugal pressure but also it has to be differentiated from other giant breast masses as all these have a different therapeutic approach and prognosis. We herein report one such unusual case of giant fibroadenoma of the right breast in a 35-year-old woman creating a diagnostic dilemma as it mimicked a phyllodes tumor.