Breast tumors during adolescence

A variety of benign tumors may involve the breast of the adolescent female. Neoplasms and cysts originating from the breast tissue itself, as well as from anatomically related tissues such as lymph nodes may occur. Imaging of the adolescent with a breast mass varies from that of the mature women bec ause of the extremely uncommon occurrence of breast malignancy is this youn ger population. During a 22-year period (1978-99), 684 young females (14-20 years) were referred to the Breast Unit of the 1st Department of Obstetric s and Gynecology in the major University-appointed hospital of the Universi ty of Athens, because of breast masses. The clinical and imaging evaluation of the masses confirmed their presence in the majority of cases. Most case s (442-64.6%) were managed conservatively and carefully followed-up. In 242 cases (35.4%) ablation of the masses was performed. Biopsy showed 236 (97. 5%) benign and 6 (2.5%) malignant tumors. The malignant turners were 2 case s of hemangiosarcoma, 1 case of rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 case of ductual carcino ma, I case of cystosarcoma phylloides and I case of metastatic rhabdomyosar coma from the eye. In three cases patients died as a consequence of the dis ease, two survived and one was lost due to the familie's wishes to be trans fered to another oncology department abroad.