Breast: Female & Male

Question 1

What is gynecomastia?

Answer 1

The growth of abnormally large breasts in males due to hormone imbalances. It is due to the excess growth of breast tissue, not excess fat tissue.

Question 2

What position will your patient be in for examination?

Answer 2

Supine or sitting

Question 3

What is a supernumerary nipple?

Answer 3

AN EXTRA NIPPLE!!!!! Normal variation.

Question 4

What is the first step in examining the breasts?

And what is the second?

Answer 4

1. Inspection

2. Palpation

Question 5

What are 3 positions/maneuvers your patient can hold that allow for better inspection of the breasts, specifically MOVEMENT of the breasts?

Answer 5

1. Inverted shoulders, hands on hips
2. Raise arms above head
3. Lean forward with hands on knees (large breasts only)

Question 6

Name some important things to assess with inspection of the breast itself.

Answer 6

Dimpling, Symmetry, Size in accordance with age.

Question 7

What are some key points to assess with the nipples?

Answer 7

Size, shape, direction (normal: outward, downward), ulcerations, discharge.

Question 8

What are the 5 stages of breast development according to Tanner Staging?

Answer 8

1. Preadolescent (begins 8-10 yrs.)
2. Breast Bud Stage
3. Breast & Areola enlarge
4. Areola & Nipple form secondary mound over breast.
5. Mature Breast

Question 9

Define menarche.

Answer 9

Beginning of menstruation (Beginning of breast development precedes menarche).

Question 10

What is the Tail of Spence?

Answer 10

The upper outer tail (superior lateral) of breast tissue that extends into the axilla. This is the site of most breast tumors.

Question 11

What is the difference in capabilities between BSE’s and mammograms?

Answer 11

Mammograms can reveal cancers too small to be detected by palpation.

Question 12

What is colostrum?

Answer 12

The precursor to breast milk in pregnant women. A thick, yellow fluid.

Question 13

Who is more likely to have breast cancer after age 45, a Caucasian woman or an African American woman?

Answer 13

Da whyte gurl.
Black women are more likely to have it before age 45 and are more likely to die from it at any age.
***Chances of breast cancer are 12% lower in black women, but 36% higher death rate.

Question 14

What are 2 potential signs of neoplasms that you, as a nurse, are looking or during inspection?

Answer 14

Dimpling and Retraction.

Question 15

What are 3 different systematic patterns for palpating the breasts?

Answer 15

1. Vertical strips (best - what we use)
2. Spokes-on-a-wheel
3. Concentric circles

Question 16

What are some changes in the breasts of a pregnant woman?

Answer 16

Enlargement, Darkened areola and nipple, Striae, Colostrum flow.