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Papillomatosis of the breast is a rare, benign, epitheliosis-like lesion, i.e. an overgrowth of the cells lining the ducts of glands that resembles a papilla or nipple-like nodule/tumor. PB tumors develop in the apocrine glands of the breast. PB is also termed juvenile papillomatosis because of its frequent occurrence in younger women and Swiss cheese disease because of its microscopic appearance. Rarely, PB has also been diagnosed in very young, adolescent, and adult males.
A PB tumor is typically an asymptomatic lesion that is detected on examination as a palpable but otherwise symptomless breast mass or in some cases by routine breast cancer screening methods in individuals unaware of the mass's presence. Although PB tumors are themselves benign, a significant percentage of individuals with these tumors concurrently have or will develop certain types of breast carcinomas and/or have a family history of relatives with breast carcinomas. Cases of PB have also been reported to occur in individuals with a family history of certain genetic diseases.
Pediatric cases of PB tumors are commonly treated by total resection. Complete excision of PB tumors with clear surgical margins to remove all tumor cells is important in order to reduce a recurrence of the tumor at its site of removal. Regular, long-term follow-up monitoring is recommended especially for individuals with multiple PB tumors, individuals who have a family history of relatives with breast cancer, and/or individuals with PB tumors that have other aggressive features.