Breast Flashcards
Define fibroadenoma
- A benign breast lump most common in young women
- Arise in breast lobules, composed of fibrous and epithelial tissue
Describe epidemiology of fibroadenoma
- Most common type of breast cancer below age 30
- Generally arise age 20-24
- 68% of breast masses
List risk factors for fibroadenoma
- Thought to occur because of increased sensitivity to oestrogen
- Young age
- Obesity
- Consumption of oral contraceptives before age 20
- Family history
- Increase in size during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and HRT but become smaller afterwards
List signs and symptoms of fibroadenoma
- Firm, non-tender, highly mobile lumps
- Simple are 1-3cm
- Complex have different types of cells
- Giant or juvenile are more than 5cm
- Normal overlying skin, not fixed to surrounding parenchuma
List investigations for fibroadenoma
- Triple assessment
- Examination
- Imaging (ultrasound below 40 - well circumscribed, round to ovoid or macrolobulated mass with uniform hypoechogenicity)
- Needle biopsy (not required over age of 25)
Describe management of fibroadenoma
- Most can be left
- If they get bigger (giant or juvenile, or complex fibroadenoma) then they are removed
- May be vacuum assisted, this can be done under local anaesthetic
Describe prognosis of fibroadenoma
- Does not increase risk of breast cancer for most women
- If complex, risk is slightly increased
Describe complications of fibroadenoma
- Rare
- Slightly increased risk of breast cancer in some cases
- Giant fibroadenomas continue growing and can become large
Define duct ectasia
A benign (non-cancerous) breast condition that occurs when a milk duct in the breast widens and its walls thicken. This can cause the duct to become blocked and lead to fluid build-up.
Describe epidemiology of duct ectasia
- Occurs in perimenopausal women (age 45-55)
- Duct ectasia 5-9% of non-lactating women
List signs and symptoms of duct ectasia
- Often causes no symptoms
- May cause a thick nipple discharge
- Red tender nipple and nearby breast tissue
- Nipple may be pulled inward
- Scar tissue around the abnormal duct causing a hard lump (firm, stable, painful, under nipple)
List risk factors for duct ectasia
Smoking, close to menopause, obesity
Describe investigation for duct ectasia
- Mammogram
- Ultrasound
- Biopsy
Define intraductal papilloma
Solitary or multiple benign lesions that arise from the epithelium of the lectiferous breast ducts
Describe epidemiology of intraductal papilloma
- Peak incidence 40-50 years
- Multiple lesions more common when younger
- Solitary lesions more common when older
List signs and symptoms of intraductal papilloma
Solitary lesion (central)
- Bloody or serous nipple discharge (most common cause)
- Palpable lump close to or behind the nipple or areola
- Large central lesion
Multiple lesions
- Usually asymptomatic, rarely discharge
- Peripheral lesions which are smaller than solitary lesions
Describe investigations of intraductal papilloma
- Core needle biopsy if lesion is palpable, rule out malignancy (fibroepithelial tumour, with papillary cells and fibrovascular core covered by epithelial and myoepithelial cells
- Ductogram (mammogram with contrast, non specific findings such as ectasia and filing defects)
List examples of benign ductal disease
- Duct ectasia
- Papilloma
Define mastitis and breast abscess
- Inflammation of the breast with or without infection.
- Mastitis with infection may be lactational (puerperal) or non-lactational (e.g., duct ectasia).
- Non-infectious mastitis includes idiopathic granulomatous inflammation and other inflammatory conditions (e.g., foreign body reaction).
- A breast abscess is a localised area of infection with a walled-off collection of pus. It may or may not be associated with mastitis.
Describe epidemiology of mastitis and breast abscess
- Global prevalence of mastitis in lactating women up to 10%
- Breast abscess in 2-11% of women with mastitis, with incidence of 0.1-3.0% in breastfeeding women
- 50% of infants with neonatal mastitis will develop breast abscess
- Tubecular mastitis is rare 0.1-3% incidence