NONOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF BREAST MASSES DIAGNOSED AS FIBROADENOMA

A 7-9-year study was undertaken in 99 female patients (median age 20 y ears), 56 of whom had single and 43 multiple fibroadenomas (total 279) . Thirty-four women with 58 masses (21 per cent) were lost to follow-u p. Twenty-eight women with 73 masses (26 per cent) subsequently underw ent excision at a median of 10 (range 3-59)months for single and 38 (1 -110)months for multiple fibroadenomas (P=0.03), with histological con firmation in 71 and other benign disease in two cases. There was resol ution of 107 masses (38 per cent of those entered into the study, 72 p er cent of those not lost or excised), leaving 41 persisting masses (1 5 per cent of those entered into the study, 28 per cent of those not l ost or excised). The actuarial probability of disappearance was 0.46 a t 5 years and 0.69 at 9 years (Kaplan-Meier analysis). There was no di fference in the rate of resolution when 56 single lesions were compare d with 223 multiple lesions, or when 192 lesions measuring 2 cm or les s in diameter were compared with 87 greater than 2 cm. Resolution was significantly more frequent in women aged 20 years or less than in tho se who were older (P<0.01). Non-operative management remains a safe ap proach in selected women and should be followed by resolution of half of fibroadenomas at 5 years.