Fibrocystic Changes of the breast

Very frequent in women during reproductive period (25-45 years)

Can mimic several situations, clinically and radiologically

Usually multifocal and bilateral

Can present with discomfort, pain, heaviness or nipple discharge

Some cases can even present with axillary lymphadenopathy

Ultrasound usually discovers fibrosis, cysts and microcalcifications

The gross appearence is a poorly defined, gray-white area with cysts of variable size

Microscopic presentation consists in a series of findings, some of them are:

  • Cysts (cystic dilatation of ducts and acini), filled with eosinophilic material, foamy cytoplasm macrophages, blood, hemosiderin and sometimes microcalcifications
  • Apocrine metaplasia (I’m thinking that cysts and apocrine metaplasia are the typical findings)
  • Fibrosis (of course)
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Fibroadenomatoid changes
  • Epithelial hyperplasia (if prominent should be called proliferative fibrocystic changes, denotating the associated risk)

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