Breast Flashcards
What is the breast comprised of?
- Majority is adipose tissue
- Mammary glands
- Connective tissue stroma (fatty and fibrous tissue)
- Pectoral fascia
What is the action of the ducts of the breast?
Carry milk from the lobules to the nipples
What is the action of the lobules of the breast?
They are the mammary glands that produce milk during pregnancy/ breastfeeding
What does each lobule consist of?
Many alveoli drained by a single lactiferous duct
What hormone stimulates the development of breasts?
Oestrogen
What is the action of progesterone on the breasts?
Stimulates formation of milk glands
Why is lactation inhibited in pregnancy?
Progesterone produced in the placenta inteferes with prolactin binding
What is responsible for breast growth in pregnancy?
Increased prolactin secretion
What are the steps in breast examination?
Get consent/ chaperone/ explain what doing etc
Inspection
Palpation
Assess lump
What are the 3 positions used to inspect the breast?
Relaxed with arms by sides
Hands pressed into hip
Hands placed behind head
What are you looking for on inspection of the breast?
Asymmetry Scars Cosmetic augmentation Tethering, fixation or puckering of skin Nipple eversion/ inversion Nipple discharge Skin colour Paeu d'orange Paget's disease of the nipple
What is Paeu d’orange?
Thickened, oedematous, dimpled skin found with inflammatory breast cancer
What is Paget’s disease of the nipple?
Erythematous. scaly rash of the nipple that looks like eczema
How do you palpate the breast?
Have them lying at 45 degrees with hand behind head
Use flat of fingers to palpate each quadrant, over the nipple and the axilla
What features should you assess if a lump is found?
Location Size Shape Consistency Margins Tethered? Tenderness Skin colour Nipple discharge
What are the potential causes of breast lumps?
Breast cancer Fibroadenoma Fibrocystic changes Cysts Fat necrosis Lipoma Galactocele Phyllodes tumur
What are fibroadenomas?
Benign tumours of stromal/ epithelial breast duct tissue
How do fibroadenomas usually feel on palpation?
Small (<3cm) Smooth Mobile Round Well circumscribed Firm
In what age are fibroadenomas the most common?
20-40
Why are fibroadenomas more common in younger women?
They respond to oestrogen and progesterone, so go after menopause
What are fibrocystic breast changes?
When the breasts become fibrous and cystic in response to changes in the menstrual cycle
When do fibrocystic breast changes usually occur and resolve?
Usually begin around 10 days before menstruation and then resolve once menstruation begins
How may fibrocystic breast changes present?
Lumpiness
Breast pain/ tenderness
Fluctuation of breast size
How can fibrocystic breast changes be managed?
Exclude cancer Manage symptoms: -Supportive bra -NSAIDs -Avoid caffeine -Apply heat to area -Hormonal treatments
Why do fibrocystic breast changes occur?
The connective tissues, ducts and lobules respond to female sex hormones
What are breast cysts?
Benign individual fluid filled lumps
What is the most common cause of breast lumps?
Cysts
At what age to breast cysts most commonly occur?
Between 30 and 50 (in the perimenopausal period)
What are cysts like on examination?
Smooth
Well circumscribed
Mobile
May fluctuate with the menstrual cycle
How are breast cysts managed?
Need to exclude cancer
Aspiration or excision may resolve symptoms
What is fat necrosis of the breast?
When a benign lump forms due to localised degeneration and scarring of fat tissue in the breast
What may cause fat necrosis?
Localised trauma
Radiotherapy
Surgery
Why does fat necrosis occur?
Trauma causes an inflammatory reaction resulting in fibrosis and necrosis of the fat tissue
What may fat necrosis present on examination?
Painless Firm Irregular Fixed Skin dimpling/ nipple inversion
How is fat necrosis diagnosed?
USS and mammogram may look similar to breast cancer so need histology to rule it out
What are lipomas?
Benign tumours of adipose tissue
How do lipomas feel on examination?
Soft
Painless
Mobile
Don’t cause skin changes
What are galactoceles?
Breast milk filled cysts
Who gets galactoceles?
Women who are lactating who stop breastfeeding
How do galactoceles occur?
When the lactiferous duct is blocked, preventing the gland from draining milk
How do galactoceles present?
Firm, mobile painless lump, usually beneath the areola
How are galactoceles managed?
Usually resolve without any treatment but may drain them with a needle
What are phyllodes tumours?
Rare tumours of the connective tissue of the breast
What is the most likely cause of a breast lump in a 20 year old?
Fibroadenoma
What is the most likely cause of a breast lump in a 30 year old?
Localised benign lump
What is the most likely cause of a breast lump in a 60 year old?
Breast cancer
What is mastalgia?
Breast pain
Is cyclical or non-cyclical breast pain more common?
Cyclical
How does cyclical breast pain usually present?
Bilateral, generalised pain
Heaviness
Aching
At what age is non-cyclical breast pain more common?
In women age 40-50
What may cause non-cyclical breast pain?
Medications
Infection
Pregnancy
How can breast pain be investigated?
Breast pain diary to look for cyclical breast pain
Exclude cancer, infection and pregnancy
How is mastalgia managed?
Supportive bra NSAIDs Avoid caffeine Apply heat Hormonal treatment
What is gynaecomastia?
The enlargement of the glandular breast tissue in males
In what ages is gynaecomastia most common?
Adolescents and older men (>50)
What are the causes of gynaecomastia?
- Idiopathic
- Hormonal imbalance between oestrogen and androgens (testosterone)
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Medications/ drugs
What is the usual hormonal imbalance that causes gynaecomastia?
High oestrogen: Low androgens
What stimulates the breast development in gynaecomastia?
Oestrogen
What hormone may also be responsible for gynaecomastia?
Prolactin
What may cause hyperprolactaemia in males?
Dopamine antagonists (e.g. antipsychotics)
What may cause high oestrogen levels in males?
Physiological during puberty Obesity Testicular cancer Liver cirrhosis Hyperthyroidism hCG secreting tumour
What examination should always be performed on a patient presenting with gynaecomastia and why?
Testicular examination as 2% of cases are due to a Leydig cell testicular tumour
What conditions that reduce testosterone can cause gynaecomastia?
Older age Hypothalamus/ pituitary conditions Klinefelter syndrome Orchitis Testicular damage
What medications can cause gynaecomastia?
Anabolic steroids Antipsychotics Digoxin Sprinolactone GnRH agonists Opiates Marijuana Alcohol
What other condition may present like gynaecomastia?
Psuedogynaecomastia: Breast enlargement due to obesity
What will be found on examination of gynaecomastia?
Firm tissue behind the areolas
How may gynaecomastia be investigated?
Thorough history and examination
Blood tests
Imaging
What is the management of simple gynaecomastia in a healthy adolescent?
Watchful waiting
What blood tests may be done in a more complex case of gynaecomastia (eg. > 30 with unexplained rapid onset)?
U&E's LFTs TFTs Testosterone Sex hormone-binding globulin estrogen Prolactin LH/ FSH Alpha-fetoprotein/ beta-hCG (testicular cancer markers)
What imagine may be done for more complex cases of gynaecomastia?
Breast USS
Mammogram
Biopsy
Testicular USS
How is gynaecomastia managed?
Stop cause (e.g. if cause)
Watch and wait
Tamoxifen/ surgery if problematic
What is galactorrhoea?
Breast milk production not associated with pregnancy or breastfeeding
What stimulates the production of breast milk?
Prolactin