Skip to main content

Breast Cancer

Hyperplasia of the Breast

Hyperplasia is an overgrowth of the cells that line the lobules (milk-producing glands) or ducts (small tubes) inside the breast. It is not cancer, but some types of hyperplasia are linked with a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Diagnosis of hyperplasia

Hyperplasia can be described as either usual or atypical, based on how the cells look under a microscope.

  • In usual ductal hyperplasia, there is an overgrowth of cells lining the ducts in the breast, but the cells look very close to normal.
  • In atypical hyperplasia (or hyperplasia with atypia), the cells look more distorted and abnormal. This can be either atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH).

Hyperplasia doesn’t usually cause a lump that can be felt, but it can sometimes cause changes that can be seen on a mammogram. It’s diagnosed by doing a biopsy, during which a hollow needle or surgery is used to take out some of the abnormal breast tissue for testing.

How does hyperplasia affect your risk for breast cancer?

Hyperplasia can affect your risk for breast cancer, but how much depends on what type it is:

  • Usual ductal hyperplasia (also known as moderate or florid hyperplasia of the usual type, without atypia): The risk of breast cancer is about 1½ to 2 times higher than that of a woman with no breast abnormalities.
  • Atypical hyperplasia (either ADH or ALH): The risk of breast cancer is about 4 to 5 times higher than that of a woman with no breast abnormalities. More details about pathology reports showing atypical hyperplasia can be found in Understanding Your Pathology Report: Atypical Hyperplasia.

Treatment of hyperplasia

Usual ductal hyperplasia is considered a normal finding in the breast and does not need to be treated. 

If either ADH or ALH is found in a needle biopsy sample, surgery may be recommended to remove more breast tissue around it. This is to be sure that there is nothing more serious, such as cancer, nearby. If ADH or ALH is found after a surgical biopsy, typically no other treatment is needed.

Reducing breast cancer risk or finding it early

Both ADH and ALH are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. Even though most women with ADH or ALH will not develop breast cancer, it's still important to talk with a health care provider about your risk and what you can do about it.

Options for women at higher risk of breast cancer from ADH or ALH may include:

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Collins LC, Schnitt SJ. Chapter 9: Pathology of benign breast disorders. In: Harris JR, Lippman ME, Morrow M, Osborne CK, eds. Diseases of the Breast. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014.

Guray M, Sahin AA. Benign breast diseases: Classification, diagnosis, and management. Oncologist. 2006;11:435-449.

Hartmann LC, Degnim AC, Santen RJ, Dupont WD, Ghosh K. Atypical hyperplasia of the breast — Risk assessment and management options. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:78-89.

Hartmann LC, Sellers TA, Frost MH, et al. Benign breast disease and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:229-237.

McEvoy MP, Coopey SB, Mazzola E, et al. Breast cancer risk and follow-up recommendations for young women diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Ann Surg Oncol. 2015;22:3346-3349.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. Version 1.2021. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/breast-screening.pdf on October 28, 2021.

Orr B, Kelley JL. Benign breast diseases: Evaluation and management. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2016;59(4):710-726.

Sabel MS. Overview of benign breast diseases. UpToDate. 2021. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-benign-breast-diseases on October 27, 2021.

Sabel MS, Collins LC. Atypia and lobular carcinoma in situ: High-risk lesions of the breast. UpToDate. 2021. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/atypia-and-lobular-carcinoma-in-situ-high-risk-lesions-of-the-breast on October 27, 2021.

 

Last Revised: January 25, 2022

American Cancer Society Emails

Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.