Breast pathology

Question 1

What is fibrocystic change?

Answer 1

Changes in breast tissue that happen to many women in their lives. ALSO CALLED FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE

Question 2

What can fibrocystic disease present as?

Answer 2

Can form a lump, can cause discomfort related to the menstrual cycle.

Question 3

What is a fibroadenoma?

Answer 3

Fibroadenoma is a term used to describe a broad range of solid, benign breast lesions that commonly effect premenopausal women

Question 4

What does fibroadenoma show as on xray?

Answer 4

Lump, very round, not fixed

Question 5

What are some of the risk factors of breast cancer?

Answer 5

• Oestrogens
• early menarche
• Late menopause
• Obesity in postmenopausal women
• Oral contraceptives and hormonal therapy for menopause
• Alcohol
• Mutations in certain genes

Question 6

What is DCIS?

Answer 6

The stage of a cancer before it invades.

Pure DCIS cannot produce a metastasis.

Has the potential to progress to invasion if left.

Question 7

What is the assessment used to diagnose breast cancer?

Answer 7

Triple assessment.

Question 8

What are the components of triple assessment?

Answer 8

Clinical examination
Imaging (usually mammography, ultrasonography, or both)
Needle biopsy

Question 9

Process of triple assessment

Answer 9

Breast cancer is often first detected as an abnormality on a mammogram before it is felt by the patient or healthcare provider. Mammographic features suggestive of malignancy include asymmetry, microcalcifications, and a mass or architectural distortion. If any of these features are identified, diagnostic mammography along with breast ultrasonography should be performed before a biopsy is obtained