Common Misdiagnoses of Fibroadenoma

Fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous (benign) tumor that is a common occurrence in women under the age of 30. A fibroadenoma is generally composed of breast gland tissue and surrounding supportive gland tissue and may feel like an easily moveable lump beneath the skin. It is also usually painless and maybe firm yet rubbery. Black women are more often diagnosed with the condition and at a younger age than white women. These lumps may grow in size during pregnancy and will often become smaller after menopause. The cause of fibroadenoma is unknown.

Proper Diagnosis Procedures and Treatments

A basic physical examination is the first step in detecting a fibroadenoma. A competent physician will then order more tests that include a breast ultrasound and a mammogram to rule out malignancy. In many cases, a core needle biopsy is performed as well. However this biopsy may not be needed in teens and women in their early 20's, especially if the lump goes away on its own.

Common treatment for a fibroadenoma is removal. However, a doctor may decide to just leave the lump. Reasons to have the lump removed include the following:

• The biopsy results appear abnormal.
• The overall shape of the breast has changed.
• There is general concern about later cancer.

An alternative to removing the lump with a needle is destroying it by freezing through cryoablation.

Women with the condition may have a higher risk of actual breast cancer later in life. Therefore, a prudent doctor who decides to leave the lump will require regular examinations and imaging tests. If the lump changes or grows, the doctor should then order that it be removed.

Common Misdiagnoses of Fibroadenoma

Fibroadenoma may be misdiagnosed through a misreading of tests. A neglectful doctor may miss the lump entirely. Although the lump is rarely cancerous, there is still a small chance that it may be.

Fibroadenoma may be also be mistaken for other conditions, including breast cancer, a breast abscess or fibrocystic breast disease, all of which require different types of treatment.

If a fibroadenoma is mistaken for breast cancer, and the doctor proceeds with unnecessary aggressive treatment, the treatment may actually harm the non-cancerous patient. Conversely, if the lump is actually breast cancer and is misdiagnosed as the non-cancerous fibroadenoma, then needed cancer treatments may be delayed, which could lead to further complications and even death.

If your fibroadenoma is misdiagnosed, and the misdiagnosis leads to unnecessary treatment, or if you have breast cancer that was initially misdiagnosed as fibroadenoma, you may have a case for medical malpractice. Talk with an experienced attorney to discuss your case.