11.2 Flashcards
Describe normal breast tissue
Modified sweat glands
Non-fucntional except during lactation.
Lobules = acini and intralobular stroma
Give 7 physiological breast changes that occur.
Prepubertal breast - Few lobules (M and F identical)
Menarche - Increase in number of lobules, increased volume of interlobular stroma.
Menstrual cycle:
Follicular phase - lobules inactive
After ovulation - cell proliferation and stromal oedema
Menstruation - decrease in lobule size
Pregnancy:
Increase in size and number of lobules
Decrease in stroma
Secretory changes
Cessation of lactation:
Atrophy of lobules but not to former levels
Increasing age:
Terminal duct lobular units decrease in number and size.
Interlobular stroma replaced by adipose tissue.
Give some pathological breast changes that can occur?
Changes or symptoms that come about due to underlying breast pathology.
Disorders of development Inflammatory conditions Benign epithelial lesions Stromal tumours Gynaecomastia Breast carcinoma
What are the general clinical presentations of breast conditions?
Pain Palpable mass Nipple discharge Skin changes Lumpiness Mammographic abnormality
What is the pain like in breast physiology/disease?
Cyclical and diffuse - often physiological
Non-cyclical and focal - ruptured cysts, injury and inflammation
Occasionally presenting complaint in breast cancer
When is a palpable mass worrying? What could this be?
Hard, craggy, fixed
Invasive carcinoma, fibroadenoma, cysts
When is nipple discharge most concerning?
Spontaneous and unilateral
When can milky discharge occur?
Endocrine disorders - pituitary adenoma
Side effect of medication - OCP
When can bloody or serous discharge occur?
Benin lesions
Papilloma
Duct ectasia
Malignant lesions
Describe the breast screening programme
Mammogram every 3 years between 47-73 years.
Easier to detect lesions on older women breasts
What can be found on a mammogram?
Densities:
Invasive carcinoma, fibroadenoma, cysts
Calcifications
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), benign changes.
Describe the incidence of breast conditions in general. What is the most common benign tumour?
Symptoms and signs are common - mostly benign.
Fibroadenoma is most common benign tumour.
What is the incidence of fibroadenoma in relation to age.
Occurs at any age in reproductive period.
Often
When do phyllodes tumour usually present?
6th decade.
Give the incidence of breast cancer in relation to age.
Average age of diagnosis?
Rare before 25 (except familial)
Incidence increases with age
77% in women > 50 years
Average age of diagnosis is 64 years
UK:
45,500 new female cases and 300 new male cases per year.
12,500 deaths per year.
Give examples of disorders of development
Milk line remnants (3rd nipples)
Accessory axillary breast tissue (malignancy)
Give some inflammatory conditions of the breast.
Acute mastitis
Duct ectasia
Fat necrosis