Interstitial laser photocoagulation for fibroadenomas of the breast

Abstract Fibroadenomas are benign lesions of the breast that are common in young women. Most can safely be treated conservatively, but if they are not excised, the majority persist for several years and some increase in size. Interstitial Laser Photocoagulation is a new approach to treating these lesions. Under local anaesthesia and sedation, using ultrasound guidance, fine needles are inserted into the fibroadenoma and a laser fibre passed through each needle to coagulate the lesion in situ. Twenty-nine lesions (diameter 14–35 mm) have been treated in 24 patients. Twenty eight (97%) shrank in size on follow up ultrasound assessment. Fourteen were followed for a year, at which time none was palpable and only one could still be detected on ultrasound. In early cases there were three minor complications (a small scar at a site of needle insertion), later prevented by improved technique. This is a simple and safe outpatient procedure for ablating fibroadenomas that does not require open surgery.