Breast Flashcards
What is pagets disease of the breast?
eczematoid change of the nipple associated with an underlying breast malignancy and it is present in 1-2% of patients with breast cancer
When is trastuzumab used in breast cancer?
In HER2 positive patients
What are Anastrozole and letrozole?
aromatase inhibitors that reduces peripheral oestrogen synthesis
Adjuvant hormonal therapy is offered if tumours are positive for hormone receptors. What is used in pre menopausal women and what is used in post?
Tamoxifen is still used in pre- and peri-menopausal women. In post-menopausal women, aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole are used for this purpose
Chemotherapy in breast cancer?
Cytotoxic therapy may be used either prior to surgery (‘neoadjuvanant’ chemotherapy) to downstage a primary lesion or after surgery depending on the stage of the tumour, for example, if there is axillary node disease - FEC-D is used in this situation.
The ‘snowstorm’ sign on ultrasound of axillary lymph nodes indicates what?
extracapsular breast implant rupture. It is due to leakage of the silicone, which then drains via the lymphatic system, giving the ‘snowstorm appearance’ both in the breast and the lymph nodes.
What is mammary duct ectasia?
Dilatation of the large breast ducts
Most common around the menopause
May present with a tender lump around the areola +/- a green nipple discharge
If ruptures may cause local inflammation, sometimes referred to as ‘plasma cell mastitis’
Diagnosis of Paget’s disease of the nipple?
punch biopsy, mammography and ultrasound of the breast
First line abx for lactational mastitis?
Oral flucloxacillin
What is seen in mammography of a breast cyst?
Halo appearance
What is used in the management of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer in pre-menopausal women?
Tamoxifen
Age for breast screening?
50-70 years
Factors of screening?
sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value
Ideally should have a detectable pre invasive stage
Should detect at a pre symptom stage
Treatment should improve prognosis
Asymptomatic stage where treatment improves prognosis
Easy test
Public health problem
Cost effective
What is ductal carcinoma in situ?
DCIS is an early form of breast cancer.
Memory aid for sensitivty and specificty
Think about heroine
Bags at baggage reclaim
Dogs sniffer
Sensitvity- Sniffs every bag
Specific sniffer dog will only indicate bags with drugs
Who do fibroadenoma most commonly occur in?
Younger people of childbearing age
Who do breast cysts often occur in?
Middle aged women
What promotes breast development?
Oestrogen
Cause of gynaecomastia
Increased oestrogen production or decreased testosterone production
When does gynaecomastia often occur?
Puberty and old age
Drugs that cause sprinolactone?
Sprinolactone
Steroids
Marajuana
There are 3 classes of medical treatment for gynecomastia:
androgens (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, danazol), anti-estrogens (clomiphene citrate, tamoxifen), and aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole and anastrozole
Why is tamoxifen pre menopausal women and aromatase inhibitor post menopausal women
AIs stop the body from making estrogen, and as a result hormone receptor-positive tumors do not get fed by estrogen and die. AIs are not given to premenopausal women because their ovaries still produce estrogen. AIs will not stop the ovaries from making the estrogen that feeds the tumor.
What is a triple assessment?
History and examination
Mammogram
Biopsy and histology
Symptoms of breast cancer?
New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
Pain in any area of the breast.
HPC questions for breast exam
Is it related to menstral cycle
Is it causing any discomfort?
Painful- More likely to be a cyst
Has there been an injury- May have drawn patient’s attention to lump or was it always there
PMH questions for breast cancer?
Ovarian cancer in the past
Breast cancer in the past
Haematological malignancy- Rt can increase risk of breast cancer
DH questions for breast cancer?
Combined oral contraceptive
HRT
Anything that has exogenous hormones
Anticoagulants- Important if going to biopsy
SH questions to ask breast cancer?
Alcohol is possibly the higher risk factor
Smoking is possibly a risk factor but not definite
BMI
Social support
Work
FH questions ask breast cancer?
BRAC1 and BRAC2 gene
First and second degree relatives
How many relatives
Was it breast or was it ovarian cancer?
Bilateral breast or one side?
Male breast cancer?