Breast Cysts Flashcards
what are the most common types of breast lumps?
Breast cysts
In what age range do breast cysts affect women?
30-50
Describe the morphology of breast cysts: (5)
1) fluid filled
2) smooth
3) well circumscribed
4) mobile
5) fluctuant
True or false: breast cysts are fixed
False - they are mobile
How can you differentiate between breast cysts and fibroadenoma:
breast cysts are painful whereas fibroadenomas are painless
True or false: breast cysts do not increase the risk of cancer
false
What imaging method can be used to visualise a breast cyst?
ultrasound
What is the gold standard diagnosis method for breast cysts?
fine needle aspiration
Give 6 differential diagnoses for breast cysts:
1) fibroadenoma
2) fat necrosis
3) lipoma
4) galactocele
5) fibrocystic breast changes
6) Phyllode’s tumour
What is fat necrosis of the breast?
trauma induced scarring forming a lump that is firm, irregular and painless potentially with skin dimpling or nipple inversion
Describe how a lipoma feels on palpation:
soft, painless and mobile
What is a galactocele?
a milk filled cysts that are caused by lactiferous duct blockage
How does a galactocele present?
a firm, mobile, painless lump found under the areolar
How does fibrocystic breast change present?
generalised painful, lumpy breast often worsened by menstrual change
What is a Phyllode’s tumour?
a rare fast growing connective tissue tumour
What is duct ectasia?
Duct ectasia typically develops around menopause and is common in smokers. Mammary ducts become blocked by stagnant secretions.
how do patients present with duct ectasia?
greenish nipple discharge
may be brown or bloody
-nipple retraction
