Breast lumps Causes

Causes

Breast lumps can be caused by:

Breast cancer
Breast cysts (fluid-filled sacs in breast tissue that are usually benign)
Fibroadenoma (a solid, benign mass most common in young women)
Fibrocystic breasts (lumpy or rope-like breast tissue)
Galactocele (a milk-filled cyst that's usually harmless)
Injury or trauma to the breast
Intraductal papilloma (a benign, wartlike growth in a milk duct)
Lipoma (a slow-growing, doughy mass that's usually harmless)
Mastitis (an infection in breast tissue that most commonly affects women who are breast-feeding)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Nov. 26, 2020

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Cameron JL, et al., eds. Management of benign breast disease. In: Current Surgical Therapy. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 17, 2014.
AskMayoExpert. Breast masses in adolescent females. Mayo Clinic; 2020.
Kumar V, et al. The breast. In: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 17, 2015.
Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 1, 2015.

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