Breast Disorders Flashcards
3 components of the female breast
- Glands and ducts (organized
- into lobes)
- Stroma (fibrous tissue) to bind lobes together
- Adipose tissue within and between lobes
each breast is made up of how many lobes?
12-20 lobes
which part of the breast contains major excretory duct for the lobe
apex of the breast
Each lobe has a group of lobules that have several ducts which unite to form the ?
major duct for the lobe
Each major duct widens to form ____ and then narrows at its individual opening in the nipple
an ampulla
Areola also contains sebaceous glands (______ ______) which may be visible as punctate prominences
Montgomery glands
what % of a normla breast is composed of adipose tissue?
80-85%
difference in breast in Nonpregnant, nonlactating; pregnant; lactation
- Nonpregnant, nonlactating - small, tightly packed alveoli
- Pregnant - alveoli hypertrophy and lining cells proliferate
- Lactation - alveolar cells secrete lipids and proteins (milk)
Deep surface of breast lies on what structure
fascia of chest wall muscles
Fascia is condensed into multiple bands - _____ _____ - support breast in upright position
Cooper’s ligaments
lymphatic drainage Ultimately drains into where?
axillary lymph nodes
receive most lymphatic drainage and therefore are the most common site of breast cancer metastases
AXillary nodes - sentinel nodes
alt pathways of lymphatic drainage
internal mammary, supraclavicular, epitrochlear, contralateral axillary and abdominal lymph nodes
development of fetal nipple and prepubertal breast?
- Fetal - Primordial breast arises from basal layer of epidermis
- Prepubertal - breast is rudimentary bud
- Few branching ducts
- Ducts are capped with alveolar buds, end buds, or small lobules
at what age do the breast begin to grow?
what hormone affects breast tissue?
age 10-13
- estrogen/progesterone affect breast tissue
- Communication between epithelial and mesenchymal cells
- Extensive branching of ductal system and lobule development
what structures change during overall breast growth
increased:
- acinar tissue
- ductal size & branching
- adipose
Premenstrual - breast epithelial cells proliferate during the _____ phase when estrogen and progesterone are increased
what other changes happen?
luteal
- Acinar cells increase in number and size
- Ductal lumens widen
- Overall increased breast size, turgor/fullness, and tenderness - 1 week before menses
Postmenstrual - breast epithelial cells undergo _______ at the end of the luteal phase when estrogen and progesterone levels decline
what other changes happen?
programmed cell death
- Decreased size and turgor (may still be tender)
- Reduced number and size of breast acini
- Decreased diameter of ducts
Final breast tissue differentiation occurs under the influence of _____ and _____ and is not complete until first full-term pregnancy
progesterone
prolactin
changes to the breast during pregnancy
- Marked increase in breast size and turgidity
- Deepening pigmentation of the nipple-areolar complex
- Nipple enlargement
- Areolar widening with increased number and size of lubricating glands
- Branching and widening of breast ducts
- Increased acini
changes to breast during late pregnancy (~34 wks)
fatty tissues are almost completely replaced by cellular breast parenchyma
Drop in what hormone triggers onset of milk production
progesterone
what is main regulator of milk production
Prolactin
menopausal changes to breast?
Decrease in estrogen and progesterone
- atrophy and involution
- Decr # and size of ducts and acini
- regresses to almost infantile state
- Adipose tissue may or may not atrophy
- Parenchymal elements are lost
Fluid can be expressed from ducts in who?
- 40% of premenopausal women
- 55% of parous women
- 75% of women who have lactated within 2 years
green nipple discharge is related to ?
cholesterol diepoxides
what presentation of nipple discharge is more physiologic?
which one needs further eval?
-
Multiduct discharge elicited only following manual pressure with no blood
- Physiologic - no further evaluation needed
- May see bloody multiduct discharge in pregnancy - Spontaneous or single duct discharge - needs evaluation
causes of abnml nipple discharge
- Normal lactation
- Galactorrhea
- Benign physiologic nipple discharge
- Pathologic nipple discharge
- MCC: intraductal papillomas
- Other causes - carcinoma, fibrocystic change
- Usually unilateral and single-duct discharge - Can be serous, bloody, or serosanguineous
important questions to ask about abnml nipple discharge
- +/- breast mass
- Location of discharge - Unilateral or bilateral; Single or multiple ducts
- Qualities of discharge - Spontaneous or must be expressed; Constant or intermittent; Elicited by pressure at a single site or general pressure
- Menses/Hormonal - Timing in relation to menstrual cycle; Pre- or post-menopausal; History of hormone use (contraception, HRT)
causes of galactorrhea
- Idiopathic
- Physiologic - pregnancy, postpartum, breast stimulation, neonatal
- Meds - antipsychotics, methyldopa, imipramine, amphetamine, metoclopramide, OCPs, herbals
- Neoplasm - lung, renal, lymphoma, pituitary, hypothalamic
- Diseases - CKD, sarcoidosis, Cushing’s, hypothyroidism, acromegaly
- CNS lesions - pituitary adenoma, empty sella, head trauma
- Chest wall irritation - clothing, burns, VZV, eczema, esophagitis, surgery
bilateral multiductal milky discharge in nonlactating patient
dx?
W/u if PE otherwise normal, negative imaging and multiductal discharge?
- galactorrhea
- Pregnancy test, prolactin, renal function, thyroid function, endocrinology consult
- unilateral, spontaneous serous or serosanguineous discharge from single duct
- Intraductal papilloma or intraductal malignancy
- Palpable mass may not be present
dx?
Bloody discharge - more suggestive of ?
- pathologic discharge
- cancer but usually due to benign papilloma
w/u for pathologic discharge?
- Cytology rarely helpful - negative doesn’t r/o cancer
- Mammography or US - may reveal underlying abnormalities in duct
- Ductography - may show intraductal filling defect
- Ductoscopy - endoscopic evaluation of ducts
definitive and tx for pathologic discharge
subareolar duct excision (microductectomy)
- Palpable glandular breast tissue in males
- Pubertal - 60% of boys - Usually resolves spontaneously in 1 year
- Palpate carefully to determine true (glandular) gynecomastia from fatty pseudogynecomastia - Compare subareolar tissue to nearby adipose; Fatty tissue - diffuse, nontender; True glandular enlargement - central, may be tender
- Grade findings according to severity - Higher number = more severe
- Pubertal - tender 2-3 cm discoid enlargement of glandular tissue beneath areola
dx?
Gynecomastia
50% of athletes who abuse what substances that can cause Gynecomastia
androgens or anabolic steroids
50% of athletes who abuse what substances that can cause Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia s/s suggestive of CA
- Asymmetry
- Enlargement not beneath areola
- Unusual firmness
- Nipple retraction
- Bleeding or discharge
w/u for gynecomastia
-
Serum prolactin & hCG
- + beta-hCG usually 2o testicular tumor or other CA (i.e., lung or liver) - may see mildly elevated hCG in pts with primary hypogonadism and high LH -
Serum free testosterone & LH
- Low testosterone & high LH - primary hypogonadism
- High testosterone & high LH - androgen resistance -
Serum estradiol
- Increased - testicular tumors, elevated hCG, liver disease, obesity, adrenal tumor, hermaphroditism, aromatase gene mutations - Serum TSH & FT4
- Karyotype (for Klinefelter syndrome)
- CXR - search for metastatic or bronchogenic carcinoma - If suspicious/unclear diagnosis
- Needle bx with cytology -If suspicious enlargement
tx for pubertal & med-induced gynecomastia
- usually resolves spontaneously in 1-2 years
- Medication-induced - stops after d/c offending drug
tx for painful or persistent gynecomastia
treat for 9-12 mo
-
SERM - for true glandular gynecomastia
- raloxifine (Evista) 60 mg orally daily (more effective)
- tamoxifen 10-20 mg orally daily -
Aromatase inhibitor
- anastrozole (Arimidex) 1 mg orally daily
- Causes decreased serum estradiol and increased testosterone - Testosterone therapy - For men with hypogonadism - may improve or worsen
-
Radiation therapy
- Prophylactic - men with prostate CA receiving antiandrogen tx
- Reduces incidence 52% to 85% - Surgery - persistent or severe
what gyneomastia tx is not recommended for Teens long-term?
what are the risks?
- aromatase inhibitor
- Risk of osteoporosis, delayed epiphyseal fusion