Fibromas - Types, Causes, and Treatment

What Is Fibroma?

Fibroma is a non-cancerous benign tumor of fibrous connective tissue. They are formed from mesenchymal tissue (loose connective tissue).

Since the tissue is present all over the body, fibroma can occur in any part of the body. If a person has fibroma, they may not show its symptoms. The affected parts are usually not painful unless they become inflamed or irritated. Most fibromas require very less or no treatment as they are non-cancerous benign growths.

What Are the Types of Fibromas?

Fibromas can occur in different parts of the body. On this basis, they can be classified into the following categories-

1. Angiofibroma - They are commonly present on the nose or mouth. Angiofibroma is a growth made up of fibrous tissue and blood vessels. They are usually small, flesh-colored, pink, or red pimples.

2. Dermatofibroma - These are the growths that can be present anywhere on the skin, caused due to any trauma or injury to the skin. The most common locations are the upper arm, upper back, and lower leg. These growths are like hard lumps below the skin. They are usually red or purple in color. They can occur in people of any age but are more commonly seen in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

3. Plantar Fibroma - It is seen in the plantar fascia tissue of the foot . It is present like a knot or a lump. Plantar fascia is a band of tissues supporting the muscles, running from the heel to the toes of the feet. It is most likely to occur in Europeans.

4. Non-ossifying Fibroma - It is a benign tumor made up of tissues such as scar tissue. Non-ossifying means a tissue that does not calcify into bony tissues. The growth of the tumor takes place in the bones but is not made up of bone. They are seen mostly in 20 to 40 % of children.

5. Oral Fibroma - This growth occurs inside the mouth. It is mostly present on the inner surface of the cheeks, at the junction of the lower and the upper teeth. These types of growth occur due to irritation, or due to any injury or trauma in any area. Therefore, they are called irritation or traumatic fibromas.

6. Uterine Fibroid - As the name suggests, it is placed inside or outside the wall of the uterus. They could be one or more in number, and present in different sizes.

What Causes Fibroma?

The exact reason for the development of fibroma cannot be said clearly as in the case of plantar fibroma. Some of the reasons may be due to the uncontrolled growth of the cells due to genetics, or due to hereditary growth syndrome, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia, as seen in angiofibroma.

Dermatofibroma and oral fibroma are caused due to injury or trauma to the affected area, or in some cases due to altered immunity. Certain medications like immunosuppressants can also lead to such growth.

Uterine fibroids are caused due to the hormones. Estrogen and progesterone receptors are higher in number in the cells of the uterine fibroid than the normal cells found in the uterine tissue. Uterine fibroids often get smaller after menopause as the hormone level decreases.

What Are the Symptoms of Fibroma?

The symptoms of fibroma depend upon its type, location, for example, if a lump occurs in the foot it makes walking difficult, and causes pain on long standing. A uterine fibroid may show some other symptoms, such as pain during periods, heavy flow, abdominal or lower back pain, constipation, and a frequent need to urinate.

Some of the other common symptoms associated with fibromas are:

• Itching.

• Pain.

• Tenderness.

• It can cause swelling.

• Creates pressure.

• Its color changes with time.

• It can be of the same color as the skin or range from red to purple.

• Smooth-surfaced.

• Bleeding on getting an injury.

• A raised surface that forms a smooth or hard lump.

• Its shape gets bigger with time.

• It increases in number with time.

How Are Fibromas Diagnosed?

Fibromas may be asymptomatic initially. A thorough physical examination is performed and a brief medical history is taken by the doctors, regarding the signs and symptoms. As per the type of fibroma, further testing is suggested to confirm the diagnosis. They can be diagnosed by various techniques like,

• Ultrasound.

• X-rays.

• Bone scans.

• Computed tomography (CT) scan.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

• Biopsy - In this technique a tissue sample is drawn from the growth and sent for testing to the laboratory to be studied under the microscope, and is also checked for malignancy.

How Are Fibromas Treated?

Most fibromas do not fade on their own. If they do not create any issue in daily life they can be left untreated, but if they are painful, inflamed, or create difficulty while walking, or other inconvenience, they need to be treated. The treatment depends on the type of fibroma.

1) Non-Surgical Treatment :

Non-surgical and non-invasive treatment is done as in the case of plantar fibroma. Stretching exercises, corticosteroid injections, and radiation therapies are suggested.

Non-ossifying fibromas do not require treatment generally. The doctor may observe the tumor, and if it grows too large in size its removal is suggested so, that it does not hinder the bone growth of the child.

2) Cryotherapy- It is suggested in the case of angiofibroma when people want to get it removed due to pain or aesthetic concerns.

3) Surgical Treatment :

Surgically fibromas can be removed like dermatofibroma but, it causes changes in the tissue by causing its scarring. This can alter the person's appearance as well.

The treatment for oral fibroma is also surgical removal. But these growths can reoccur so, it is important to remove the source of infection. Uterine fibroids also need surgical removal when they affect fertility or cause severe symptoms. Myomectomy is the procedure for surgical removal of uterine fibroid. While medications are also suggested in some cases.

Conclusion-

Fibromas are the non-cancerous growth of the fibrous tissue occurring in any part of the body. The exact cause for it cannot be determined exactly. They remain asymptomatic in many cases, while in some they show some symptoms, such as itching, pain, inflammation, etc. They may require no treatment. But, if they create inconvenience in daily life they can be treated with non-invasive, non-surgical treatment and with surgical treatment as well. Fibromas which are caused due to genetic reasons cannot be prevented but others, such as dermatofibroma can be prevented by using bug sprays, etc. In case of oral fibroma avoid biting of nails and lips.