Bewbs (.)(.) (Womens notes) Flashcards
What is a fibroadenoma?
Benign tumours of the stromal/epithelial breast duct tissue
What is the typical examination of fibroadenomas?
Painless, smooth, round, well circumscribed, firm, mobile (‘Chest mouse’), usually up to 3cm
What population are fibroadenomas more common in and why?
Younger women, as they respond to female hormones
When is surgical excisions of fibroadenomas typically done?
When they are >3cm
What is fibrocystic breast changes?
Considered a normal variation of normal; the breast tissue respond to the female sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone), becoming fibrous and cystic. Due to changes in the menstrual cycle
What factor affects the symptoms of fibrocystic breast changes?
Where a woman is in her menstrual cycle
What are the symptoms of fibrocystic breast changes?
Lumpiness, breast pain or tenderness, fluctuation of breast sizes
What hormonal treatments may be considered in severe cyclical breast pain?
Hormonal treatments: danazol and tamoxifen
What age range are breast cysts most common in?
The perimenopausal period (between 30 and 50)
How do breast cysts typically present?
Smooth discrete lump, may be fluctuant
What is the management of breast cysts?
Further assessment to exclude cancer, and may need aspiration
What is the common trigger of fat necrosis in the breast?
Trauma, radiotherapy or surgery
What is the pathophysiology of fat necrosis?
Benign lump due to localised degeneration and scarring of fat tissue in the breast
What is the findings of fat necrosis on examination?
Painless, firm, irregular, fixed in local structures, skin simpling/nipple inversion
What must be excluded in fat necrosis and why?
Breast cancer: symptoms can be similar and they can appear similar on US or mammogram. Histology is required
What are the findings of a breast lipoma?
Soft, painless, mobile, do not cause skin changes
What are galactoceles?
They occur in women who are lactating, and often stop after breastfeeding. They are due to milk ducts being blocked.
How do galactoceles present?
Firm, mobile painless, lump usually beneath the areola
What are phyllodes tumours?
Tumours of the connective tissue (stroma) of the breast
What are the categories of phyllodes tumours?
Benign, borderline, malignant
What is the treatment for phyllodes tumours?
Wide excision, mastectomy if large lesion
What is triple assessment in breast cancer?
Clinical assessment (hx and exam), imaging (mammography or US), histology (fine needle or core biopsy)
What are features that suggest a breast lump is cancerous?
Hard, irregular, painless, fixed in place. Lumps may be tethered to the skin or chest wall. Nipple retraction, skin dimpling or oedema (peau d’orange)
When should women be referred for two week wait with breast lumos?
- unexplained breast lump in patients 30 and above
- unilateral nipple changes in 50 and above
- unexplained lump in the axilla
- skin changes suggestive of breast cancer
What is mastalgia?
Breast pain
What is the common cancer in the UK?
Breast cancer
What are risk factors for breast cancer development?
Female, more oestrogen exposure, obesity, more dense breast tissue, smoking, diabetes, FHx, HRT, COCP (small), DCIS
Where is the BRCA1 gene?
Chromosome 17
What percentage of people develop breast and ovarian cancer with the BRCA1 gene?
70% develop breast cancer by 80, and 50% ovarian cancer
What percentage of people develop breast and ovarian cancer with the BRCA2 gene?
60% of people develop breast cancer by 80, 20% ovarian cancer
What is the most common type of breast cancer?
Invasive ductal carcinomas
What are indications for mx?
Multifocal, central tumour, large lesions, DCIS >4cm, patient choice
What are indications for WLE?
Solitary lesions, peripheral tumour, small lesion in large breast, DCIS <4cm, patient choice