Breast Flashcards
What mnemonic is used to identify a simple cyst?
STAR: Smooth & Thin Walled, Through transmission, Anechoic, Round
What characterizes a complex cyst?
Cystic with a solid component, may have thick, irregular walls, internal echoes, and lack of through transmission
What is an oil cyst?
Liquification of injured fat, usually from trauma or surgery, palpable & smooth, usually anechoic, possible hyperechoic internal echoes
What is a galactocele?
Milky cyst that forms from obstruction of the lactiferous ducts during pregnancy or lactation, usually presents as periareolar palpable masses
What is a sebaceous cyst?
Retention cyst from blockage of a sebaceous gland in the skin, not specific to breast, small, superficial, smooth, and palpable
What are the benign characteristics of breast neoplasms?
Wider than tall, parallel to the skin, well circumscribed, thin walled, through enhancement
What is a fibroadenoma?
Most common benign mass in premenopausal women, stimulated by estrogen, usually identified in women younger than 30
What is cystosarcoma phylloides?
A type of fibroadenoma, usually seen in women ages 30-40, characterized by rapid growth and cystic spaces
What does intraductal papilloma involve?
Proliferation of epithelial tissue within a duct or cyst, typically small and retroareolar
What are the characteristics of a lipoma?
Not specific to the breast, usually unilateral, soft, mobile, compressible, and palpable
What is a hamartoma?
Also known as fibroadenolipomas, large, soft, mobile, painless, and palpable, generally ovoid
What are the malignant characteristics of breast cancer?
Taller than wide, painless, perpendicular to the skin, stone hard, irregular, spiculated
What is invasive ductal carcinoma?
Accounts for 65-80% of breast cancers, originates from lactiferous ducts, characterized by hypoechoic appearance and sharp angulations
What is the peak age for invasive lobular carcinoma?
55 to 70 years old, bilateral in 21% of cases, characterized by infiltrating and significant posterior shadowing
What is colloid carcinoma also known as?
Mucinous or gelatinous carcinoma, prevalent in women 60-70 years old, usually hypoechoic
What defines medullary carcinoma?
Fast growing, good prognosis, mobile, hypoechoic, round, well marginated
What is the peak age for papillary carcinoma?
63-67 years old, often found in the retroareolar area
What is comedocarcinoma?
Intraductal carcinoma with nipple retraction, dominant mass, and irregular margins
What characterizes Paget’s disease?
Retroareolar growth with a rash-like appearance, typical in women over 50, irregular margins
What is scirrhous carcinoma?
Intraductal tumor with extensive fibrous tissue, very firm, non-moveable mass, often causing nipple retraction
What is mastitis?
Inflammation of the breast during lactation, characterized by warmth, redness, tenderness, and possible nipple discharge
What are the characteristics of an abscess?
Usually retroareolar, occurs during lactation or weaning, complex mass with irregular thick walls
What is gynecomastia?
Most common male breast anomaly, enlargement from benign ductal & stromal proliferation occurring in three stages
What is the purpose of cyst aspiration?
Determines if a lesion is complex vs solid
What is the purpose of needle wire localization?
Placement of needle wire for preoperative localization of nonpalpable breast lesions
What does a large core needle biopsy involve?
Guidance of large core needle biopsy of solid masses
What is a sentinel node biopsy?
Standard surgical therapy for full level I and partial level II axillary lymph node dissection
What is the ‘stepladder sign’ associated with?
Intracapsular rupture of a breast implant
What is the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for women?
12%
One in eight women will develop breast cancer
What is the most common cancer among women in the US?
Breast cancer
What is the second leading cancer among women aged 40 to 59?
Breast cancer
What type of gland is the breast classified as?
Modified sweat gland
What is the Tail of Spence?
Extension of breast tissue into the lateral upper margin of the chest into the axilla
How many lobes does the functional portion of the breast contain?
15-20 lobes
Where are most breast tumors typically found?
Upper outer quadrant of the breast
What are TDLUs?
Terminal ductal lobular units
Where does nearly all pathology within the breast originate?
TDLUs (terminal ductal lobular units)
How many new cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed annually?
Approximately 1300 new cases
What percentage of breast cancer cases are found in men?
Approximately 1% of incidence in women
What does subcutaneous fat typically appear as in breast imaging?
Hypoechoic
What is the appearance of retromammary tissue compared to subcutaneous tissue?
Similar in texture, with boundary echoes resembling skin
What confirms whether a mass is adipose tissue or a true mass?
Turning 90 degrees on the questionable area
What changes occur in the glandular tissue of women as they age?
Glandular tissue undergoes cell death and is replaced by infiltrated fatty tissue
What is the primary function of the breast?
To transport fluid
When should a Self Breast Exam (SBE) be performed?
At the end of menses, beginning at age 20
What is the purpose of the Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)?
Performed once every 3 years, yearly after age 40
What does BI-RADS stand for?
Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System
What percentage of screening mammograms will have abnormalities?
10%
When is breast ultrasound indicated?
In patients under age 30, with risk factors, or clinical impression of lumps
What are the two scanning planes used in breast ultrasound?
- Radial Scanning Plane
- Anti-Radial Scanning Plane
What is the ‘step-ladder sign’ or ‘linguini sign’ indicative of?
Ruptured breast implant
What does the ‘snowstorm sign’ indicate?
Extracapsular leakage from a breast implant
What are common types of breast masses?
- Fibroadenoma
- Breast Cysts
- Breast Cancer
As women age, which type of breast tissue decreases?
Fibrous tissue
What is the lymphatic drainage pattern for the breast?
97% to axillary lymph nodes, 3% to internal chain
