Breast – Normal Histology and Benign Disease Flashcards
The ducts are largest near the ____________.
areolae
Where do the lymph nodes of the breasts drain?
Most (45%) drain to the axillary lymph nodes. Second-most drain to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Some can drain to the mediastinum or below the diaphragm.
The entire ductal system is lined by _______________.
a two-cell layer (any more is abnormal): inner is glandular, outer is myoepithelial
Between the lobules is ______________.
intralobular stroma, which is hormone-responsive Note: there is also interlobular stroma between different lobular units, which is fibrous.
What is the main difference in male breasts?
There are ducts in males breasts, but there are no lobules.
In a malignancy, the ___________ layer is lost.
myoepithelial
Puberty prompts the formation of _____________.
acini
During pregnancy, _____________ increase in number.
acini
After menopause, there is ______________.
more stroma and fat; less glandular tissue
In addition to increased lobules, there is _____________ during pregnancy as well.
epithelial vacuolization
During pregnancy or even menstruation, breast tissue can appear in the ___________.
axilla
Nipple retraction (having an innie nipple) can occur due to ______________.
congenital abnormality or cancer
In gynecomastia, _____________ accounts for most of the extra mass.
stromal proliferation
What causes acute mastitis?
Usually occurring in lactating women, acute mastitis results from cracks in the nipple that allow Staphylococci into the ducts (where they survive on milk). This presents with redness and tenderness of the breast.
What causes chronic mastitis?
Generally non-infectious causes like milk obstructions. Most often presents in perimenopausal women. Can mimic carcinoma because irregular fibrosis often results from healing.
What causes recurrent subareolar mastitis?
Squamous metaplasia around the main nipple duct leads to recurrent inflammation due to the accumulation of keratin where it should not be.
Recurrent subareolar mastitis most often occurs in ____________.
smokers
_____________ can cause fat necoris of the breast.
Trauma and ischemia
Describe how a fibroadenoma presents.
Firm but regular; well-encapsulated; mobile
How do fibroadenomas appear on histologic exam?
There is proliferation of glands and fibrous stroma, but in general the fibrous stroma takes over and occludes the lobules.
______________ presents as primarily a proliferation of glandular tissue.
Lactating adenoma
Which masses can be benign or malignant?
Phyllodes tumors and papillomas
____________ are often described as large fleshy tumors.
Phyllodes tumors
Papillomas tend to occur near the ____________.
sub-areolar region
