Breast Conditions Guide

Adenosis

Adenosis is extra growth in the milk-producing glands of the breast, which is a common and benign finding.

Apocrine Metaplasia

A common and harmless change where some breast cells start to look like sweat gland cells.

Benign Myoepithelioma

This is a rare, harmless growth made of special cells that line milk ducts, often found as a painless lump.

Breast Cysts

Also called Simple Cysts

Breast cysts are very common, harmless, fluid-filled sacs that can feel like soft lumps in the breast.

Breast Leiomyoma

Also called Smooth muscle tumor of the nipple

A rare, benign growth made of smooth muscle, usually found in or just under the nipple or areola.

Breast Skin Infections

Also called Fungal Infections, Scabies

Infections on the breast skin can cause itching, redness, or a rash, but are not deep inside the breast.

Columnar Cell Change

Also called Columnar Cell Lesion, Columnar Cell Hyperplasia, Columnar Cell Change with Prominent Apical Snouts and Secretions (PAS)

A common and harmless finding where cells lining the breast ducts have changed shape.

Dermal Fibrosis

Dermal fibrosis is a benign thickening and hardening of the skin caused by extra fibrous tissue.

Dermatofibroma

A dermatofibroma is a common, harmless bump that forms on the skin, including the skin of the breast.

Epidermal Inclusion Cyst

A common, harmless cyst that forms just under the skin when skin cells get trapped.

Epithelial Hyperplasia

Also called Ductal or lobular hyperplasia

A common, harmless finding of extra cells growing inside your breast's ducts or lobules.

Fat Necrosis

A firm lump that forms when an area of fatty breast tissue is damaged and replaced by scar tissue.

Fibroadenoma

A fibroadenoma is a common, harmless, solid lump that often feels smooth and moves easily under the skin.

Fibrocystic Changes

Also called Fibrous mastopathy, mammary dysplasia, lumpy breasts

A common, harmless condition where breasts feel lumpy or tender, often changing with your menstrual cycle.

Fibroepithelial Polyp

Also called Skin Tag, Acrochordon

This is a common, harmless skin growth, often called a skin tag, that can appear on the breast.

Fungal Infection of the Breast

Also called Thrush, Candida Infection

This is a common yeast infection on the breast skin or nipple, often seen during breastfeeding.

Galactocele

Also called Milk Cyst

A galactocele is a harmless, milk-filled cyst that can form in the breast, usually while you are breastfeeding.

Granular Cell Tumor

Also called GCT

A granular cell tumor is a rare, usually harmless growth that can feel like a firm lump in the breast.

Granulomatous Mastitis

This is a rare type of breast inflammation that causes firm lumps and skin changes, but is not an infection.

Hamartoma

Also called Mammary Hamartoma

A hamartoma is a benign, painless lump made of normal breast tissues like fat, fibrous tissue, and glands.

Hemangioma

A hemangioma is a harmless collection of extra blood vessels that can form a small spot or lump on the skin.

Intraductal Papilloma

Also called Papilloma

A papilloma is a small, wart-like growth inside a milk duct that is usually not a cause for concern.

Lactating Adenoma

A harmless, solid lump that can form in the breast during pregnancy or while you are breastfeeding.

Lipoma

A lipoma is a soft, harmless lump made of fat cells that can grow in your breast tissue.

Lobular Hyperplasia

This is an overgrowth of normal cells inside the breast's milk-making glands, called lobules.

Lobular Involution

This is a normal, age-related change where breast glands shrink, which often happens after menopause.

Macrocalcifications

These are common, harmless specks of calcium that show up on a mammogram and are usually nothing to worry about.

Mammary Duct Ectasia

A condition where milk ducts under your nipple widen, which can cause discharge, tenderness, or a small lump.

Mast Cell Hyperplasia

This is a benign finding where extra immune cells, called mast cells, gather in your breast tissue.

Mastitis

Also called Breast Infection

Mastitis is inflammation in the breast that causes pain, swelling, and redness, and is often related to breastfeeding.

Microcalcifications

Also called Breast calcifications

Microcalcifications are tiny specks of calcium in the breast tissue that are seen on a mammogram.

Neurofibroma

A neurofibroma is a common, harmless growth made of nerve tissue that can sometimes be felt in the breast.

Neurofibromatosis of the Breast

Also called Neurofibromas in the Breast

This is a rare condition where benign growths, called neurofibromas, form from nerve tissue in the breast.

Nipple Adenoma

A nipple adenoma is a harmless growth that forms inside the nipple.

Nipple Discharge

Nipple discharge is any fluid that comes from the nipple when you are not breastfeeding.

Periductal Mastitis

This is an inflammation of the milk ducts behind the nipple, which can cause pain, discharge, or a small lump.

Phyllodes Tumor

A phyllodes tumor is a rare, often fast-growing lump made of two types of breast tissue.

Pseudo-angiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia

Also called PASH

PASH is a harmless overgrowth of normal breast tissue that is often found by chance.

Radial Scar

Also called Complex Sclerosing Lesion

A star-shaped area of tissue in the breast that is benign but can look unusual on a mammogram.

Sclerosing Adenosis

Sclerosing adenosis is a common, harmless condition where extra tissue grows in your breast's milk-making glands.

Sclerosing Lymphocytic Lobulitis

Also called Sclerosing lymphocytic mastitis, Diabetic mastopathy

This is a rare, harmless breast change that can feel like a hard lump and is often linked to autoimmune conditions like diabetes.

Sebaceous Cyst

Also called Skin Cyst, Epidermoid Cyst

A small, harmless lump just under the skin, caused by a blocked oil gland.

Seborrheic Keratosis

A common, harmless skin growth that can look like a waxy, stuck-on spot on the breast.

Squamous Metaplasia

This is a harmless change in breast cells, usually found by chance on a biopsy report.

Squamous Papilloma

A squamous papilloma is a common, harmless, wart-like growth that can appear on the skin of the breast or nipple.

Tubular Adenoma

A tubular adenoma is a rare, harmless, solid growth in the breast, often found in younger women.

Usual Ductal Hyperplasia

Also called UDH

This is a common, benign finding where extra cells grow inside the breast's milk ducts.