Overview
Radiologists must be familiar with a variety of benign breast conditions to confidently distinguish malignant disease from benign disease. Fibroadenomas are benign tumors composed of stromal and epithelial elements (see the images below). These tumors are commonly seen in young women. Multiple or complex fibroadenomas may indicate a slightly increased risk for breast cancer; the relative risk of patients with such fibroadenomas is approximately twice that of patients of similar age without fibroadenomas.
Ultrasonogram demonstrates a hypoechoic mass with smooth, partially lobulated margins typical of a fibroadenoma. 
Craniocaudal mammograms obtained 1 year apart demonstrate a newly developing mass in the outer part of the breast. 
Spot compression mammogram of the outer part of the breast demonstrates a new mass as smooth, margined, and oval. The findings are consistent with a fibroadenoma, a cyst, or a malignancy. In this patient, the diagnosis was a rapidly growing fibroadenoma. Preferred examination
A patient's age determines the preferred imaging method. In general, ultrasonography (US) is preferred if a palpable mass is found, if a patient is younger than 30 years, or if the patient is pregnant. Mammography and US are both useful if the patient has a palpable mass, is older than 30 years, and is not pregnant.[1]
In patients younger than 30 years, the most appropriate modality is US because the patient is spared radiation exposure and the likelihood for fibroadenoma is high. Positron emission tomography is expensive and not universally available. Mammography is not indicated as the primary imaging study in women younger than 30 years, unless high-risk factors are present. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is not initially indicated for assessing a palpable lump in a woman in this age group because of radiation exposure, the inability of CT to demonstrate microcalcifications, and the lack of specificity in the findings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not initially indicated for assessing a palpable lump in a woman in this age group mainly because of its high cost and the high likelihood of false-positive findings.
On mammograms, fibroadenomas typically appear as circumscribed oval or round masses, which occasionally have coarse calcifications.
On ultrasonograms, fibroadenomas appear as circumscribed, homogeneous, oval, hypoechoic masses that may have gentle lobulations; a smooth, thin, echogenic capsule; variable acoustic enhancement; and homogeneity.
On MRIs, fibroadenomas typically appear as smooth masses with high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and enhancement with the administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent.
Limitations of techniques
Mammography cannot be used to distinguish whether a mass is a fibroadenoma, a cyst, or a carcinoma with certainty because of some overlap in the findings. All of the entities may appear as smooth masses.
On ultrasonograms, fibroadenomas often demonstrate a typical appearance and may be distinguished clearly from cysts and carcinomas; however, fibrocystic disease with complicated hypoechoic cysts and, rarely, smooth carcinomas may mimic fibroadenoma. Atypical fibroadenomas, which are inhomogeneous or irregular in shape, may simulate carcinomas.
On MRIs, enhancement characteristics may help distinguish fibroadenomas from carcinomas, although the enhancement kinetics and morphologic features of the 2 tumors overlap. Fibroadenomas are hypointense or isointense lesions as compared with adjacent breast tissue on T1-weighted images, and they are hypointense or hyperintense on T2-weighted images.
With gadolinium, the majority of fibroadenomas are hyperintense, with slow initial contrast enhancement and a persistent delayed phase, but some have rapid enhancement and either a plateau or a washout phase. Large phyllodes tumors may typically have smooth margins, internal cysts, septations, and hemorrhage or perifocal or unilateral edema, but it is not possible to definitely differentiate between phyllodes tumors and fibroadenomas.
Septations occur in about half of fibroadenomas and have been reported to be a strong indicator of this diagnosis, but phyllodes tumors also may have septations.
Fibroadenomas may have a contrast-enhancement pattern suggestive of malignancy in up to one third of cases; on MRIs, they cannot be distinguished from phyllodes tumors with certainty.
Definitive diagnosis often requires palpation or image-guided biopsy.
Patient education
For patient education information, see the Cancer and Tumors Center and Women's Health Center, as well as Breast Cancer, Breast Lumps and Pain, and Breast Self-Exam.
Radiography
On mammograms, a fibroadenoma may be occult or may appear as a smooth-margined oval or round mass sized 4-100 mm. Occasionally, tumors contain coarse calcifications, which suggest infarction and involution. Calcifications may be useful in diagnosing the mass, but occasionally, they may mimic malignant microcalcifications. Although fibroadenomas often have coarse calcifications, cystosarcomas rarely have calcifications. The mammographic findings of fibroadenomas with hamartomas, cysts, and carcinomas overlap. For mammograms of fibroadenomas, see the images below.
Craniocaudal mammograms obtained 1 year apart demonstrate a newly developing mass in the outer part of the breast. Spot compression mammogram of the outer part of the breast demonstrates a new mass as smooth, margined, and oval. The findings are consistent with a fibroadenoma, a cyst, or a malignancy. In this patient, the diagnosis was a rapidly growing fibroadenoma. Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Fibroadenomas appear as round or oval masses that are smooth or gently lobulated and enhance with gadolinium-based contrast material. Internal enhancement in homogeneity may be noted.[2, 3]
Morphology is of utmost importance for correct classification of benign lesions. Fibroadenomas are typically round, ovoid, or lobulated, with smooth margins; however, on early contrast-enhanced images, they may exhibit an irregular shape or margin resulting from the progression of enhancement. Therefore, morphology should be assessed on the noncontrast or late postcontrast images. Nonenhancing internal septa, which are best seen on T2-weighted images, are a specific indicator that a mass is a fibroadenoma; however, they are only seen in a minority of fibroadenomas.
Enhancement kinetics and characteristics are highly variable with fibroadenomas and may be dependent on the degree of fibrosis within the tumor. Enhancement rates of fibroadenomas overlap with those of breast cancers. Mean enhancement is slower in fibroadenomas than in cancers, but this is not useful in assessment of individual cases.
Gadolinium-based contrast agents (gadopentetate dimeglumine [Magnevist], gadobenate dimeglumine [MultiHance], gadodiamide [Omniscan], gadoversetamide [OptiMARK], gadoteridol [ProHance]) have been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD). The disease has occurred in patients with moderate to end-stage renal disease after being given a gadolinium-based contrast agent to enhance MRI or MRA scans.
NSF/NFD is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Characteristics include red or dark patches on the skin; burning, itching, swelling, hardening, and tightening of the skin; yellow spots on the whites of the eyes; joint stiffness with trouble moving or straightening the arms, hands, legs, or feet; pain deep in the hip bones or ribs; and muscle weakness.
When internal septa are present in a smooth mass, the confidence that the mass is a fibroadenoma is high. When septa are not present, the findings of fibroadenomas and carcinomas overlap.
Ultrasonography
Fibroadenomas appear oval on ultrasonograms, and their width is larger than their anteroposterior diameter. Gentle lobulations (typically fewer than 4) may be present, but the margins should be circumscribed.[4, 5, 6, 7] (See the image below.)
Ultrasonogram demonstrates a hypoechoic mass with smooth, partially lobulated margins typical of a fibroadenoma. Internal echogenicity may be homogeneous, and findings may range from isoechoic to lobules of fat to hypoechoic. The through-transmission of the tumor is variable. A thin echogenic capsule is typical of a fibroadenoma and indicates that the lesion is benign. A vague or thick surrounding region of echogenicity may indicate malignancy. Fibroadenomas do not have a true capsule; the thin echogenic capsule seen on ultrasonograms is a pseudocapsule caused by the compression of adjacent tissue.
When using color-flow Doppler or power Doppler imaging, the amount and distribution of vascularity among fibroadenomas is highly variable. Therefore, the vascularity of solid masses does not help distinguish a cancer from a fibroadenoma.
Cysts seen in a solid mass are suggestive of cystosarcoma phyllodes rather than fibroadenomas.
One study found that histologic type, tumor size, and patient age significantly influence ultrasound characteristics of breast fibroadenomas.[8]
Degree of confidence
Of masses with a thin, smooth echogenic capsule, 93% are benign. Of circumscribed masses, 91% are benign. Of masses that are round or oval, 94% are benign. Of fibroadenomas, 60% are oriented parallel to the skin (ie, they appear oval).
False positives/negatives
Overlap may exist between the US appearances of carcinomas, fibroadenomas, cystosarcoma phyllodes, and complicated cysts.
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Park YM, Kim EK, Lee JH, Ryu JH, Han SS, Choi SJ, et al. Palpable breast masses with probably benign morphology at sonography: can biopsy be deferred?. Acta Radiol. Dec 2008;49(10):1104-11. [Medline].
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Földi M, Klar M, Orlowska-Volk M, Hanjalic-Beck A, Osterloh B, Stickeler E, et al. Ultrasound Characteristics of Breast Fibroadenomas Are Related to Clinical and Histological Parameters. Ultraschall Med. Jun 18 2009;[Medline].
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