Breast Disease Flashcards
What are the lobules made up of in the breast?
Acini and intralobular stroma
What changes happen during menarche?
Increase in number of lobules and increased volume of interlobular structure
What changes happen to the breast throughout the menstrual cycle?
Follicular phase - lobules are inactive
After ovulation - cell proliferation and stromal oedema
Menstruation - decrease in the size of lobules
What is menarche?
First menstrual cycle/onset of puberty
How do the breasts change in pregnancy?
Increase in size and number of lobules
Decrease in stroma
Secretory changes
What changes happen to the breast after cessation of lactation?
Atrophy of lobules but not to former levels
How do breasts change with increasing age?
Terminal duct lobular units decrease in number and size
Interlobular stroma replaced by adipose tissue
What makes mammograms easier to interpret in older women?
The interlobular stroma is replaced by adipose tissue, makes lesions more clear
Clinical presentation of breast conditions?
Pain Palpable mass Nipple discharge Skin changes Lumpiness Mammographic abnormalities
What is physiological breast pain like?
Cyclical and diffuse
What is pathological breast pain like?
Possible causes?
Non-cyclical and focal
Ruptured cyst, injury, inflammation, breast cancer
What characteristics of a palpable mass make it worrying?
Hard
Craggy
Fixed
Causes of a palpable mass in the breast?
Invasive carcinoma
Fibroadenoma
Cyst
What makes nipple discharge more concerning?
Spontaneous and unilateral
What can cause milky discharge?
Endocrine disorders
-pituitary adenoma
Side effect of medication
-eg OCP
What can cause bloody or serous discharge?
Benign lesions eg
- papilloma
- duct ectasia
- occasionally malignant lesions
What is duct ectasia?
When the lactiferous duct becomes blocked or clogged
Between what ages are mammograms offered to women and how regularly?
47-73
Every 3 years
What may be some worrying findings on a mammogram and what could the signify?
Densities - invasive carcinoma, fibroadenoma, cyst
Calcifications - ductal carcinoma in situ, benign changes