Atypical Hyperplasia Of The Breast

Pathophysiology
Atypical hyperplasia is a precancerous condition that affects cells in the breast. Atypical hyperplasia describes an accumulation of abnormal cells in the breast. Atypical hyperplasia isn’t cancer, but it can be a forerunner to the development of breast cancer. Over the course of your lifetime, if the atypical hyperplasia cells keep dividing and become more abnormal, this can transition into noninvasive breast cancer or invasive breast cancer.

Symptoms
Atypical hyperplasia usually doesn’t show any specific symptoms. Consult a medical practitioner if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you. Atypical hyperplasia typically doesn’t show any symptoms, but it may cause changes to appear on a mammogram. Atypical hyperplasia is usually discovered during a breast biopsy to investigate an abnormality found on a mammogram. Sometimes atypical hyperplasia is discovered on a biopsy done for a different condition.

Diagnosis
Atypical hyperplasia is usually discovered after a biopsy test to evaluate a suspicious area found on a mammogram or during a clinical breast exam. During the biopsy, tissue samples are removed and sent for analysis. The tissue samples are examined under a microscope, and the pathologist identifies atypical hyperplasia, if it’s present.

Disease Treatment
Atypical hyperplasia is generally treated with surgery to remove the abnormal cells and to make sure no in situ or invasive cancer also is present in the area. Doctors often recommend more intensive screening for breast cancer and medications to reduce your breast cancer risk.