title: Benign breast disease.
abstract: Benign breast disease is common in women. Because it is not a life-threatening condition, epidemiology information and research into the etiology and diagnosis is lacking. Benign breast disease encompasses a variety of conditions; some are harmless, but others increase the risk of breast cancer in patients. Among lesions that add to a woman's risk of breast cancer, the magnitude of this increased risk varies and a family history of breast or ovarian cancers increases risk even more. When a woman has significant symptoms of benign breast disease, it often raises suspicion of breast cancer, and physicians rely on imaging examinations and biopsies to determine the nature of the condition.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013679:Technology, Radiologic