Brest lumps, help

My wife is 29 right now and just has her first US done. They donot want to do mammography since she is young. Radiology report is like this:
There are two benign appearing ovoid solid nodules at the nine o'clock position (0.5cm, 0.6cm). Two adjancent cysts are noted at the one to two o'clock position (0.6cm,0.4cm).
Impression: Small begian appearing solid and cystic nodules as noted.

The OB told us the solid nodules should be fibroadenoma which she wants to monitor and re-exam after 3 months.

I am really concerned about this since I ever heard fibroadenoma should be in women younger than 25. Anyone could tell the possibility what these two solid nodules are?

Sorry my question sound little stupid but I am really kinda worried about this.

John

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear yhsyhm:  There are no hard and fast rules about fibroadenomas and age.  Fibroadenomas usually grow over a 12 month period to approximately 2-3cm. Some grow as large as 5cm. Fibrooadenomas are distinct on a mammogram or ultrasound and when aspirated - no fluid comes out. A physician can generally tell whether a lump is a fibroadenoma by feeling it. As long as the doctor is sure it is a fibroadenoma, there is no need to remove the lump. In 50% of the cases fibroadenomas will go away on their own within 5 years. In others, the life of a fibroadenoma is about 15 years. In teenagers - the tendency is not to remove fibroadenomas. In middle age women, the tendency is to remove the fibroadenomas to be sure they are, in fact, fibroadenomas

[surgeon]

First question is why did she have the ultrasound? Since it's not done as a routine screening procedure, I assume it was done to evaluate a lump. If so, what was the result regarding the lump in question? Fibroadenomas can be seen in women her age and older: whereas they are first noted, typically, in younger women, they don't go away completely on their own, although they often shrink up as one approaches menopause. So it's absolutely possible that's what the benign-appearing ovoid nodules are; in fact, it's most likely. Followup in 3 months sounds like a perfectly appropriate plan.

[yhsyhm]

Thanks surgeon for your quick reply. Acturally both of my wife and her OB can not feel the lumps nor the cysts. Her OB ordered the US since my wife felt a little breast pain on both sides but her OB said from the appearance her breasts are perfectly good and she cannot feel anything.

Since the two nodules are not palpable, do you still think they are fibroadenoma? Someone told me fibroadenoma are always right under the skin and nicely palpable.

Thanks!

John

[surgeon]

fibroadenomas can be anywhere within the breast and are not always palpable. At this point it's an assumption that that's what they are, and it's a reasonable one. But the only way to know for sure is either to biopsy or to observe over a period of time.

[yhsyhm]

THANKS!

[SnowWoman]

There may be the "norms" for fibroadenomas but there are many cases outside the norms.  I had one removed last year at age 47 that was back against the chest wall -- not palpable and barely visible on the mammograms.

[yhsyhm]

Thank you!