Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/17081.htm

Causes of breast lumps

Causes of Breast Lumps

Overview

There are many possible causes for lumps in the breast. Most breast lumps are benign, as in fibroadenoma, a condition that affects mostly women under age 30. Breast abscesses are usually incidental to breastfeeding.

Review Date 11/6/2021

Updated by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.