Atypical hyperplasia is a condition which is usually a precursor to breast cancer. Hyperplasia refers to an overabundance of cells, and atypical refers to abnormal cells. Atypical hyperplasia indicates that a patient is four to five times more likely to develop cancer. If atypical hyperplasia of the breast is discovered and the cells keep on dividing and becoming more abnormal, a woman is more likely develop noninvasive breast cancer, or cancer that is confined to the area in which it began.
In atypical ductal hyperplasia, the overabundance of abnormal cells are found in the ducts of the breast, which are the passages through which milk travels to reach the nipple. Atypical lobular hyperplasia is found in the lobules of the breast, which are the structures that make milk. In either case, the condition does not cause any symptoms and instead reveals itself when a doctor orders a biopsy because of abnormal mammogram results.
The development of the condition can be a result of hormonal abnormalities, inflammation, or demand by the body for additional cells. There might be no obvious cause for the condition at all. Atypical hyperplasia and cancer are linked. Women who are diagnosed with the condition when they're younger than 45 have a higher risk of developing cancer than do those women who are diagnosed when they're 55 or older.
A woman diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia will be advised to undergo more frequent screening for breast cancer, since early detection is crucial for treatment. She will be urged to perform self-exams on a monthly basis, undergo clinical examinations once or twice a year, and have screening mammograms once a year. She may also be encouraged to have regular magnetic imaging resonance (MRI) done as part of cancer screening.
When atypical hyperplasia is diagnosed, doctors often recommend that the abnormal cells be removed via atypical hyperplasia surgery. Some women with the condition do have a cancer present that needs to be removed. During the procedure, the surgeon will excise the abnormal area and make sure that no cancer remains.
Doctors sometimes recommend that women who have been diagnosed with this condition take prescription medication such as raloxifene or tamoxifen, both of which may work to lower breast cancer risk. Women who have this condition are advised to avoid hormonal therapy for symptoms of menopause. If a woman has a very high risk of developing breast cancer, including a family history of the disease, her doctor might recommend preventative mastectomy, or surgery to remove the breasts.
