10-year-old girl diagnosed with breast tumor.

Ho Chi Minh City - Ten-year-old Hai experienced chest pain and brown discharge from his left nipple. Doctors initially suspected cancer, but discovered a papilloma within the nipple – a rare condition in children.

Aside from the chest symptoms, Hai's eating and daily activities were normal. There was no family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Ultrasound results from Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City showed a tumor at the 11 o'clock position, near the nipple, with dilated ducts, containing a solid mass with low echogenicity (little echogenicity), accompanied by increased vascularity, approximately 3 cm in size.

On February 5th, Dr. Huynh Ba Tan, MSc, from the Breast Surgery Department at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the young patient had a papilloma within the mammary duct (intraductal papilloma). This type of tumor is commonly found in women aged 35-55. To date, only a few cases have occurred in teenage girls aged 13-19.

"In over 20 years of practice, this is the first time I've encountered an intraductal papilloma in a 10-year-old girl," Dr. Tan said, adding that world medical literature recorded a similar case in 2017 involving an 11-year-old Turkish girl.

Intraductal papillomas are benign, wart-like growths that develop inside the milk ducts of the breast, often difficult to feel. They are composed of glandular tissue along with fibrous tissue and blood vessels. This type of tumor may secrete clear or bloody nipple discharge, sometimes causing pain.

Doctor Tan performs surgery on child patient Hai. Photo: Nguyen Tram — Doctor Tan performs surgery on child patient Hai. Photo: *Nguyen Tram*

The child underwent surgery to completely remove the tumor using ultrasound-guided needle repositioning, which helped to accurately determine the nature of the tumor and resolve the nipple discharge.

After making an incision along the areola, Dr. Tan dissected the breast tissue using a guided needle, completely removing the tumor without damaging the surrounding milk ducts. The surgical wound was sutured aesthetically, preventing the patient from feeling self-conscious later on. The pathology results confirmed the intraductal papilloma was benign.

Intraductal papillomas are usually detected by ultrasound. They are typically 1-2 cm in size, but can be larger depending on the size of the milk duct. A doctor may order a biopsy to rule out cancer.

Dr. Tan stated that the cause of intraductal papillomas is currently unknown. Adults with intraductal papillomas have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In children, due to the low number of cases, the link between this type of papilloma and breast cancer is not yet known. Nevertheless, when parents notice any abnormalities in their child's breasts, they should take their child for examination for early diagnosis and treatment.

Nguyen Tram

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