International Multidisciplinary Group Research Articles

Nomenclature of benign breast disorders: report of a working party on the rationalisation of concepts and terminology of benign breast conditions

The late Emmanuel Lee, a Consultant Surgeon in Oxford, originally proposed the setting up of a Working Party to rationalise nomenclature of benign breast disorders. Groups in Southampton, Oxford and Cardiff established a joint project and invited interested individuals from the UK, Europe, USA and South Africa and an international multi-disciplinary group was formed in 1987. The major aim of the group was to rationalise terminology, particularly eliminating many of the terms used in the past (such as fibroadenosis and fibrocystic disease) which imply histological abnormalities, some of which are now recognised as normal. At the same time, the group wished to emphasise that benign breast disorders include a number of conditions associated with clinical symptoms that may be distressing, and a range of pathological findings whose relevance and significance require clarification.