Benign disorders of the breast

Abstract

The cosmetic surgeon should know what the benign disorders of the breast consist of. The presence of benign breast diseases should be diagnosed prior to cosmetic breast surgery. A thorough history should be taken and a good breast examination performed. Preoperative mammography is necessary on any patient having breast surgery in order to determine whether benign disease is present, and if so, what needs to be done to treat it. Benign diseases of the breast include rash, nipple discharge, mass, calcifications, and some syndromes, such as Cowden's disease, which carries a risk of breast cancer, and Weber-Christian syndrome, with benign subcutaneous masses that evolve into depressions. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.