Breast Lump Flashcards
What are the four most common diagnoses for breast lump?
- Benign cystic change
- Fibroadenoma
- Cyst
- Carcinoma
What are other diagnoses possible for breast lump in all ages?
- Fat necrosis
- Periductal mastitis
- Abscess
- Galactocele
- Phyllodes tumour
- Sarcoma
- Duct papilloma
- ‘Non breast’ lumps e.g lipoma, sebaceous cyst, prominent costal cartilage/rib
What is the most common diagnoses for breast lump if <30 years?
- physiologically normal lumpy breast
- benign cystic change
- fibroadenoma
- abscess (if breastfeeding)
- galactocele (if breast feeding)
What is the most common diagnoses for breast lump if 30-45 years?
- benign cystic change
- cyst
- abscess (especially if smokers)
- carcinoma
Why must you always rule out breast cancer?
breast cancer is possible in all ages, is common and is potentially very serious - MUST exclude it in any presentation of breast lump, regardless of how benign it seems !!!
What diagnoses only really encounter in breast feeding women?
- Galactoceles
2. Predisposed to mastitis
When could galactoceles show up?
can occur during or shortly after cessation of lactation
How can galactoceles present?
firm mass (often subareolar) caused by obstruction of lactriferous duct
What happens to the the mass in galactoceles?
- duct gradually becomes more distended with milk and epithelial cells
- may rarely be complicated with a secondary infection causing abscess formation
- similar to cyst on examination
What is mastitis caused by?
usually staph aureus or staph epi
How is periductal mastitis different from breastfeeding one?
periductal mastitis and abscess formation seen in older women, in whom anaerobic bacteria may also be implicated
What are the two greatest RF for BC?
- Female
2. Increasing age
What are other RF for BC?
- Previous BC
- FHx of BC
- Previous ovarian, endometrial or bowel cancer
- Irradiation to chest wall (mantle irradiation for Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
- Increased exposure to oestrogens, especially cyclical stimulation
When does FHx become suspicious for BC?
- 3 close blood relatives on same side of fam develop bc at any age
- 2 close blood relative develops bc before age of 60
- 1 close blood relative develops bc before age of 40
- 1 male close blood relative develops bc
- 1 close blood relative, develops bilateral bc
What are examples of increased exposure to oestrogens?
- Early menarche (<13 years)
- Late menopause (>51 years)
- Nulliparity
- Having a first child after age of about 30 years
- Non-breastfeeding
- HRT
- Use of COCP
- Obesity
What qs are important for in history of breast lump?
- How long lump been there? Why was it first noticed
- Breast trauma?
- Lump gotten bigger, smaller or stayed same size?
- Lump painful?
- Skin changes on breasts or nipples
- Any discharge from nipples?
- Patient otherwise fit and well?
- Patient have any risk factors?
What does a growing rapidly lump suggest?
abscess or cyst can appear
What does a growing more slowly lump suggest?
fibroadenomas or carcinoma
Why do you ask if any breast trauma?
accidental or iatrogenic predisposes to fat necrosis and infective sequelae such as an abscess
What would cyclical changes in size of character suggest?
more likely benign cyst breast disease than carcinoma
What would breast pain and tenderness suggest?
- benign cystic change
- acute mastitis
- abscesses