Benign breast disease

Benign breast disease (BBD) accounts for the majority (90%) of referrals to a breast clinic. It therefore represents a significant part of a breast surgeon's workload. With a solid understanding of the causes for BBD and the use of triple assessment to exclude breast cancer, a great deal can be done to accurately diagnose the condition and provide adequate explanation and treatment options. These patients are very anxious about their condition and need to be managed in the setting of a multidisciplinary team. With an increase in patient awareness and expectations the number of such referrals is expected to increase.For simplicity BBD is sub-divided into three categories – congenital, aberrations of normal breast development and involution (ANDI) and non-ANDI. This article will discuss each category separately and discuss the current methods of assessment and management of these conditions.