Characteristic imaging features of breast fibroadenomas in women given cyclosporin A after renal transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study was conducted to determine the characteristic imaging and histopathologic features of breast fibroadenomas in kidney-transplant recipients given chronic cyclosporin A immunosuppressive therapy after the transplantation and to compare these characteristics with those from a control group.


METHODS
From January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1999, 486 women underwent renal transplantation at our institution. All patients subsequently received immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin A and prednisolone. Ten (2%) of these women had developed breast fibroadenomas during this chemotherapy. We compared the data obtained on this group's fibroadenomas with those obtained from those in the control group, which comprised 100 women with fibroadenomas but who had never undergone organ transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy.


RESULTS
Twenty-two fibroadenomas developed in the 10 transplant recipients. Eight of those 10 had multiple lesions, and 7 were affected bilaterally. The mean diameter of the fibroadenomas was 4.2 +/- 2.5 cm. Mammographically, the lesions were round or oval high-density masses with well-circumscribed margins and no calcification or spiculation. Sonographically, the lesions were relatively highly echogenic and had a lower ratio of the longitudinal to the anteroposterior diameter (L /AP) than did those in the control group. Histopathologically, the features of these lesions were generally typical of fibroadenomas, but some were more typical of malignant lesions. Among the 100 control patients, 146 fibroadenomas developed; 33 women had multiple lesions, and 12 were affected bilaterally. Their fibroadenomas had a mean diameter of 2.1 +/- 1.5 cm, and the imaging features of these lesions were typical of fibroadenomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The fibroadenomas that developed in kidney-transplant recipients given chronic cyclosporin A and prednisolone immunosuppressive therapy had a tendency to be multiple, bilateral, and larger than those that developed in the control patients. These fibroadenomas also exhibited some imaging features that differed from those of typical fibroadenomas that develop in women who have not undergone organ transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy.
Son
Eun Ju
EJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, YongDong Severance Hospital, 146-92 Dokok-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul 135-270, South Korea.
Oh
Ki Keun
KK
Kim
Eun Kyung
EK
Cho
Nariya
N
Lee
Jong Doo
JD
Kim
Se Hoon
SH
Jung
Woo Hee
WH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine