Rapidly enlarging breast mass during breastfeeding mimicking carcinoma: a case report and review of literature

Fibroadenomas are the most common benign breast tumors in young women, typically arising in the second and third decades of life. They are hormone-sensitive and may enlarge rapidly during pregnancy and lactation, occasionally presenting as giant fibroadenomas. Infarction within fibroadenomas is a rare event, but when it occurs, it may resemble necrotic carcinoma both clinically and microscopically. We report the case of a 38-year-old female who presented with a rapidly enlarging right breast mass that increased markedly in size following delivery. Careful evaluation, with the patient’s history, imaging, and histopathology, was required for accurate diagnosis. Awareness of the possibility of infarction within fibroadenomas is crucial for physicians and pathologists to avoid misdiagnosis with carcinoma, like Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC). Early recognition and timely excision are essential in managing such cases, particularly in pregnancy and lactation.