Abstract

Histopathological features of 4 atypical fibroadenomas of breast in women receiving oral contraceptives were compared with those of fibroadenomas in lactating and pregnant period and common fibroadenomas, to specify morphological characteristics of these atypical neoplastic growths and to correlate with administration of oral contraceptives. Fibroadenomas found among women taking contraceptive pills were able to divide into 2 types ; atypical glandular and ductal hyperplasia with secretory activity (epithelial type), and stromal cell hyperplasia with more prominent cleft formation of ducts with or without multinucleated cells (stromal type). They appeared partly similar to those seen in 5 fibroadenomas in lactating and pregnant period. It was highly suggestive that atypicality of fibroadenomas of the women receiving oral contraceptives may be related to high hormonal millieu. However, at present, it is hard to determine definite cause-and-result relationship between the atypical features and administration of oral contraceptives.