Soft fibroma of the nipple: Clinical and histopathological characteristics

A 22-year-old woman presented with 5-years history of a pedunculated polyp originating from her left nipple, which appeared during her puerperium and had gradually enlarged over the past 10-months. No galactorrhea nor any other signs or symptoms were reported by the patient. The lesion measured 3.5 × 2.5 × 1.5 cm and had a cauliflower-like surface (Fig. 1). No other findings were observed on the adjacent skin. Initially, the lesion was considered to be a papilloma and total surgical excision was considered and performed. Histopathological analysis showed a polypoidal lesion covered by squamous epithelium with fibro collagenous hypocellular stroma and small vessels in the stroma (Fig. 2). Neither necrosis nor mitosis were identified. Based on these findings, the lesion was finally classified as a soft fibroma as this lesion presents with proliferation of fibroblasts between collagen and scattered vessels, with a keratinizing squamous cell epithelium.^1,2 Based on these findings, we diagnosed the lesion as a soft fibroma. At the ambulatory follow-up, patient exhibited a normal and uneventful recovery, without recurrences. Only a few cases of fibromas occurring on the nipple have been published in the literature. Here, we present a rare case of a cauliflower-like fibroma arising from the nipple that occurred in a female patient.

Figure 1.

Polypoid lesion originating from the left nipple.

Figure 2.

Histopathological findings: polypoidal lesion covered by squamous epithelium with fibrocollagenous hypocellular stroma and small vessels in the stroma (H&E).

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The authors declare that they have followed the protocols of their Center on the publication of patient data.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.