Neglected giant fibroadenoma of the breast presenting like a fungating breast cancer in a premenarchal Nigerian teenager.

BACKGROUND

Giant fibroadenoma of the breast is a type of rare benign breast tumour which can grow to a giant size, It is even rarer for this benign tumour to grow rapidly, ulcerate spontaneously and present like a fungating breast tumour in a way mimicking breast cancer. Carcinoma of the breast on the other hand has been on the increase so much that it has assumed an epidemiological dimension. In developing country such as Nigeria late presentation of breast cancer has remained a rule rather than exception and it is very common for patient to present with fungating breast lesion.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a case presentation of a 14 year old premenarchal girl presenting with a massive ulcerating and fungating left breast mass that was initially thought to be a fungating locally advanced breast carcinoma on clinical examination. Further examination of the morphology of the resected surgical specimen and histological examination confirmed it to be giant fibroadenoma of the breast.

RESULTS

The giant fungating breast tumour successfully managed by partial mastectomy and breast reconstruction with an excellent result and a high degree of patient satisfaction was achieved.

CONCLUSION

Though a rare clinical entity benign breast tumour can present like a fungating breast cancer and this must be bore in mind especially in young adolescent patients presenting with ulcerating breast tumour.