Breast conditions

Question 1

What is breast abscess usually a complication of?

Answer 1

Infectious mastitis, mostly affects breastfeeding mothers

Question 2

What is seen O/E with breast abscess?

Answer 2

Tender, hard breast mass, fluctuant, overlying erhythema

Question 3

What investigation is ordered for breast abscess?

Answer 3

USS to see if there’s collection of pus

Question 4

Management of breast abscess?

Answer 4

Continue breastfeeding, correct technique, manual expression of milk after feeding.
Abx - flucoxacillin or erythromycin
Surgical incision and drainage or needle aspiration

Question 5

What are the characteristics of the non-cancerous breast lumps seen in fibrocystic disease?

Answer 5

Lumpy, cobblestone appearance to breast. Lumps are smooth with defined edges, mobile. Breasts can ache, swell, itch. Symptoms follow menstrual cycle pattern

Question 6

What is the most common cause of bloody nipple discharge in women aged 20-40?

Answer 6

Ductal papilloma - benign proliferative breast lesions occurring anywhere in the ductal system which can be solitary or multiple

Question 7

Which is the only breast condition where the majority of lumps are not painful?

Answer 7

Breast carcinoma (lumps only painful in 20%)

Question 8

In ductal papilloma, what type of lesions are associated with a better prognosis?

Answer 8

Central and solitary = excellent prognosis

Peripheral and multiple = higher risk of later developing breast Ca

Question 9

What is Paget’s disease?

Answer 9

Infiltrating carcinoma of the nipple epithelium

Question 10

What characteristics are seen in lumps present in breast cancer?

Answer 10

Hard, irregular, fixed, painless lump(s) with skin dimpling. Some get nipple change, skin colour change, nipple discharge

Question 11

What ages are included in the breast screening programme?

Answer 11

47-73