Factors Predicting Failure of Medical Treatment for Fibroadenosis

Background: Fibroadenosis, also known as fibrocystic breast disease, is a common benign breast condition affecting women of reproductive age. While medical treatment—often involving hormonal modulation, analgesics, and lifestyle modifications—can alleviate symptoms, a subset of patients fail to achieve adequate relief, leading to persistent symptoms or recurrence. Identifying factors that predict failure of medical therapy is critical for optimizing management strategies, reducing unnecessary treatment delays, and guiding early surgical intervention when indicated. So, we aimed to determine the factors predicting failure of medical treatment for fibroadenosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the General Surgery Department of Zagazig University Hospital, Zagazig on patients who were presented with breast pain primarily attributed to fibroadenosis at the General Surgery Department of Zagazig University Hospital during the study period. Results: Regarding univariate Associations, older age, diabetes, hypertension, positive family history, infertility, cyclical tenderness, breast heaviness, and palpable lumps were significantly linked to treatment failure (p < 0.05). Regarding multivariate Analysis, history of infertility (OR ≈ 43, p = 0.019) and cyclical breast tenderness (OR ≈ 43, p = 0.019) emerged as independent predictors of medical management failure. Other variables lost significance after adjustment. Conclusion: Most fibroadenosis patients responded positively to a regimen of evening primrose oil, NSAIDs, and cabergoline, while infertility history and cyclical breast tenderness were identified as significant independent predictors of treatment failure.