What Is Fibroadenoma of the Breast?
Fibroadenoma of the breast is a mixed tumor arising from fibrous tissue and epithelial cells within the breast lobules, representing the most common type of benign breast tumor. It can occur in women of any age after puberty, but is most prevalent among young women aged 18–25. The condition is associated with endocrine imbalance, such as relative or absolute elevation of estrogen levels. Clinically, the primary symptom is a painless breast lump, rarely accompanied by breast pain or nipple discharge. Regarding malignant transformation, it is generally believed that only a small number of cases may undergo sarcomatous change in the fibrous component, while epithelial malignancy is extremely rare.
Fibroadenoma is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as "Rou Kui" (breast nodule). It was previously also referred to as "Ru Pi" (breast disorder), so many TCM texts referring to "Ru Pi" actually denote either mammary hyperplasia or fibroadenoma. To avoid confusion in terminology, it is now standardized under the category of "Rou Kui." TCM holds that Rou Kui results from liver qi stagnation or blood stasis and phlegm coagulation. The *Great Compendium of Surgery* states: "A hard lump in the breast, like a plum or a date, though recently developed, may be an early sign of Ru Yan (breast cancer)," indicating that some long-standing nodules may eventually transform into malignant breast cancer.
The most effective treatment for fibroadenoma is surgery. Surgical removal can cure the condition, although recurrence at the original site or development of new tumors in other parts of the breast may occur in some cases. In TCM, herbs promoting liver qi regulation, blood circulation, and phlegm resolution can help adjust endocrine balance and eliminate breast masses, yielding good therapeutic outcomes.
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