Background: Benign lesions of breast are most common cause of breast problems. Up to 30% of females suffer from benign diseases of breast, requiring treatment at some time in their lives. Benign lesions of breast are 5 to 10 times more common than breast cancer. Many of these lesions are clinically suspected as malignancy but diagnosed as benign after histopathological examination. Aim: To study the spectrum of benign lesions of breast & their age and sex distribution. Inclusion Criteria: All benign lesions of breast diagnosed on histopathology are included. Exclusion Criteria: Malignant lesions of breast. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 5 years is conducted from 31st December 2015 to 1st January 2011 to determine the spectrum of histopathological patterns in breast lesions received at Department of Pathology, Raichur institute of medical sciences, Raichur, Karnataka. Data for retrospective study is obtained from departmental records, tissue blocks, slides and requisition forms submitted along with specimens. Results: A total of 128 breast specimens were received during study period in our deparment. Benign to malignant ratio was 5.54:1; male to female ratio was 1:20.33. Highest incidence of benign lesions in females was seen between 21-30 years of age. Most common benign lesion was Fibroadenoma (64%), followed by fibrocystic disease (12.5%). All breast lesions in males were diagnosed as Gynaecomastia with the peak incidence in the age group between 21-30 years. Conclusion: The benign breast lesions constituted 85.3%. Benign to malignant ratio was 5.54:1 in females. Fibroadenoma was the most common lesion in the benign group followed by fibrocystic disease. This histopathological sublassification of benign breast lesions was useful in the management of patients and also carried prognostic value. Identification of benign breast lesions is important as some of them mimic malignancy clinically. Histopathological diagnosis plays an important role in the diagnosis of benign breast diseases.

Keywords: Benign Lesions of Breast; Fibroadenoma; Inflammatory Lesion.