Breast Flashcards
Which organism is most common for causing breast abscesses and mastitis ?
Staph aureus
What is the cause of breast abscesses
- usually linked to mastitis which is caused by milk stasis (lactating women) or cracked nipple/infection in non lactating women
What are the risk factors for mastitis (and so breast abscess)?
- milk stasis due to poor feeding/ missed feeds
- damage to nipple
What is the presentation of a breast abscess ?
- red,hot, inflamed area of breast
- fever >38
- flu like symptoms
- painful lump
Common presentation of duct ectasia ?
- microcalcifications on mammogram
- nipple discharge often blood stained
- palpable sub areolar mass
- non cyclic breast pain
How should a breast abscess be investigated ?
- physical breast exam
- mammogram or ultrasound
- fine needle aspiration cytology
Treatment of breast abscess
- abx, most likely Flucloxacillin
- drainage, small = needle and syringe, big= incision
Which other condition presents similarly to breast abscess ?
Fibrocystic disease
What is the most common cause of breast lumps in women of reproductive age ?
Fibrocystic disease
What are the characteristics of a benign breast lump on physical examination ? (5)
- Three dimensional
- mobile
- smooth
- regular borders
- solid or cystic in consistency
What are the characteristics of a malignant breast lump on physical examination ? (4)
- firm
- irregular borders
- fixed to underlying tissue
- skin changes/nipple retraction
What are the three pathological classifications of benign breast disease and how do they affect future cancer risk ?
- Non-proliferative: no increased risk
- Proliferative disorders without atypia: mild to moderate increase in risk
- Atypical hyperplasia: substantial increase in risk
What are breast lumps in younger patients most likely to be ?
- cysts
- fibroadenoma
What is treatment of breast cysts ?
- if causing pain and are clearly palpable the should be aspirated
Who are ductal papilloma most common in ?
Women over 40
