Diagnosis of Atypical Hyperplasia

Atypical hyperplasia is not cancer, but a precancerous condition in which a multitude of abnormal cells are discovered within a duct or milk gland (lobule) of the breast. It cannot be detected through mammography or felt during an exam. Atypical hyperplasia is often found when there was another area of concern revealed on a mammogram or during an examination that necessitated a biopsy of breast tissue for assessment. As those tissue samples are analyzed in the laboratory, atypical hyperplasia may be diagnosed.

If atypical hyperplasia is identified, your doctor will need to assess its extent and whether there is any evidence of breast cancer present. Since this condition increases the risk of developing breast cancer about four-fold, close monitoring is considered essential. Surgery is often recommended to remove and evaluate the affected tissue. In some cases, a wide local excision or lumpectomy is necessary.