There are several types of benign lumps, such as cysts, fibrous tissue, and intraductal papillomas. An intraductal papilloma is a small tumor inside one of the milk ducts of the breast. The growths are benign (not cancerous) and usually painless, but may cause unusual discharge from the nipple. Intraductal papillomas are benign (not cancerous) wart-like tumors that grow inside the milk ducts of the breast.
They are made up of glandular tissue along with fibrous tissue and blood vessels (called fibrovascular tissue). Intraductal papilloma is a benign (not cancerous) breast condition. Surgery is the recommended treatment to remove the papilloma and the part of the duct it is in, so that growth can be evaluated for any signs of cancer. Most intraductal papillomas are not cancerous, however, 17-20% have been shown to be cancerous after complete removal of the tumor.
In addition, about 20% of intraductal papillomas contain abnormal cells. Because there is even a small risk of cancer, papillomas must be surgically removed and biopsies should be performed. Intraductal papilloma is a benign condition of the breast. This means it's not cancer.
A papilloma is a tumor that looks a little like a wart. They can grow into the ducts of the breast, often near the nipple. Intraductal papilloma is a small, non-cancerous (benign) tumor that grows in a milk duct in the breast. An intraductal papilloma is usually not painful, but some women do feel discomfort or pain around the area.
The doctor will likely not even discover the internal papillomas unless they encounter the wart while investigating another problem. You usually won't need to return to the breast clinic after the intraductal papilloma has been removed. Intraductal papillomas are more common in women over 40 years of age and usually develop as the breast ages and changes. If you have been found to have a papilloma after a needle biopsy, you should consult a doctor who specializes in benign diseases of the breast.
The ducts further from the nipple are smaller and the papillomas in this area usually manifest as groups of small tumors. These tumors are called multiple papillomas and have been associated with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Solitary papillomas (solitary intraductal papillomas) are single tumors that often grow in large galactophoric ducts near the nipple. We pay special attention to the presence, relationship and location of proliferative and invasive disorders, whether in the papilloma itself or in its immediate vicinity.
Symptoms of intraductal papillomas are related to the size and location of cell growth in the breast. Another reason to get medical attention is that papillomas can cause complications or discomfort and sometimes require additional treatment, although these problems are not likely to be cancerous or life-threatening. Multiple papillomas are more likely to be associated with atypical hyperplasia, but this is not always the case. People with multiple intraductal papillomas or whose intraductal papillomas contain atypical cells are more likely to have follow-up appointments.
Results Solitary papillomas were associated with breast carcinoma in 7 patients (10%) of this series.
