Breast Lump Flashcards
The genetic predisposition to breast cancer
continues to be delineated with the strong
predisposition from mutations in the genes ______ and _____
BRCA1
and BRCA2
The commonest lumps are those associated with
______
mammary dysplasia (32%)
_______ is also a common cause of
cysts, especially in the premenopause phase
Fibrocystic disease
Over________ of isolated breast lumps prove to be
benign but clinical identification of a malignant tumour
can only definitely be made following aspiration
biopsy or histological examination of the tumour
75%
What is the triple test for breast masses?
1 Clinical breast examination
2 Imaging—mammography and/or ultrasound ± MRI
3 Fine-needle aspiration cytology ± core biopsy
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in
females. The risk of developing breast cancer
before age 85 in Australian women is ______
1 in 8
The average age of diagnosis of breast CA is ____
60.7 years
About _____ of all new cancers in women are
breast neoplasms.
25%
Ddx for different types of dc
— intraduct papilloma (commonest)
— intraduct carcinoma
— fibrocystic disease
Bloodstained
What is the discharge?
— fibrocystic disease
— mammary duct ectasia
Green–grey
What is the dc?
— fibrocystic disease
— intraduct carcinoma (serous)
— breast abscess (pus)
Yellow:
What is the dc?
— lactation cysts
— lactation
— hyperprolactinaemia
— drugs (e.g. antipsychotic, cocaine)
Milky white (galactorrhoea):
Causes of periareolar inflammation
Causes may be
inverted nipple or mammary duct ectasia.
It starts as an eczematous-looking, dry
scabbing red rash of the nipple and then proceeds to
ulceration of the nipple and areola
Paget disease of the nippl
Time of examination for breast lumps: ideally,__________
4 days after the end
of the period
Red flag pointers for breast lumps
- Hard and irregular lump
- Skin dimpling and puckering
- Skin oedema (‘peau d’orange’)
- Nipple discharge
- Nipple distortion
- Nipple eczema
- Postmenopausal women
What are the draining lymphatic nodes of the breast
The draining lymphatic nodes are in the axillae,
supraclavicular fossae and internal mammary chain
Most cancers occur in the ________
upper outer quadrant
Lumps that are usually benign and require no
immediate action are
tiny (<4 mm) nodules in
subcutaneous tissue (usually in the areolar margin);
elongated ridges, usually bilateral and in the lower
aspects of the breasts; and rounded soft nodules
(usually <6 mm) around the areolar margi
A hard mass is suspicious of malignancy but
cancer can be soft because of______
fat entrapment
The _________ which is usually found in
the heavier breast, is often nodular and firm to hard.
inframammary ridge,
Positive signs of malignancy on Xray mammography include an _________
irregular infiltrating mass with focal spotty microcalcification.
Xray Mammo for screening
• established benefit for women _______
• possible benefit for women in their ______
• follow-up in those with breast cancer, as 6%
develop in the opposite breast
• localisation of the lesion for fine-needle aspiration
over 50 years
40s
This is mainly used to elucidate an area of breast
density and is the best method of defining benign
breast disease, especially with cystic changes.
Breast ultrasound
When is breast UTZ usually useful
It is
generally most useful in women less than 35 years old
Indications for breast UTZ
• pregnant and lactating breast • differentiating between \_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_ • palpable masses at \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ • for more accurate localisation of lump during fine-needle aspiration
fluid-filled cysts and solid mass
periphery of breast tissue (not screened by mammography)
- <35 years: _____
- 35–50 years: __________
• >50 years: bilateral mammography ± bilateral
ultrasound
bilateral ultrasound; bilateral mammography if ultrasound suspicious
bilateral mammography + bilateral ultrasound
Ddx: Very young women—12 to 25 years
Inflamed cysts or ducts, usually close to areola
Fibroadenomata, often giant
Hormonal thickening, not uncommon
Malignancy rare
Investigations for 12-25 years old presenting with mass
- mammography contraindicated
* ultrasound helpful
Young women—26 to 35 years DDx
Classic fibroadenomata
Fibrocystic disease with or without discharge
Cysts uncommon
Malignancy uncommon
Investigations for 26-35 years old presenting with mass
- mammography: breasts often very dense
* ultrasound often diagnostic
Women—36 to 50 years (premenopausal) ddx
Cysts Fibrocystic disease, discharges, duct papillomas Malignancy common Fibroadenomata occur but cannot assume Inflammatory processes not uncommon
Investigations for 36-50:
1
2
- mammography useful
* targeted ultrasound useful
Women—over 50 years (postmenopausal) ddx
Any new discrete mass—malignant until proven
otherwise
Any new thickening—regard with suspicion
Inflammatory lesions—probably duct ectasia (follow to
resolution)
Cysts unlikely
over 50, post menopausal dxtics
- mammography usually diagnostic (first line)
* ultrasound may be useful
Ddx Women—over 50 years, on hormones
Any new mass—regard with suspicion
Cysts may occur—usually asymptomatic
Hormonal change not uncommon
Dxtics Women—over 50 years, on hormones
• mammography usually diagnostic but breast may
become more dense
• ultrasound may be useful if above normal or unhelpful
and lump suspicious
Oestrogen receptors are uncommon in normal
breasts but are found in _____ of breast cancers,
although the incidence varies with age
two-thirds