Breast Surgery Flashcards
Lactational Mastitis
what is it
inflammation of breast tissue
common complication of breast feeding
Lactational Mastitis
causes of mastitis
- obstruction in ducts and accumulation of milk
- infection (Staph aureus)
Lactational Mastitis
how may obstruction be prevented
Regularly expressing breast milk
Lactational Mastitis
presentation
- Breast pain and tenderness (unilateral)
- Erythema in a focal area of breast tissue
- Local warmth and inflammation
- Nipple discharge
- Fever
Lactational Mastitis
mnx when caused by blockage of ducts
conservative:
- continued breastfeeding, expressing milk
- breast massage
- heat packs, warm showers
- simple analgesia
Lactational Mastitis
mnx if infection suspected or conservative doesn’t work
- flucloxacillin
- erythromycin if allergic
- sample of milk sent for C&S
- Fluconazole if suspected candidal infection
- continue breastfeeding
Lactational Mastitis
rare complication of mastitis
breast abscess
may need surgical incision and drainage
Lactational Mastitis
why may candidal infection cause recurrent mastitis
it causes cracked skin on the nipple that creates an entrance for infection.
Lactational Mastitis
if there is candida of the nipple, what may the infant get
oral thrush and candidal nappy rash
Lactational Mastitis
presentation of candida of the nipple
- Sore nipples bilaterally, particularly after feeding
- Nipple tenderness and itching
- Cracked, flaky or shiny areola
- baby: white patches in mouth and tongue, or candidal nappy rash
Lactational Mastitis
mnx of candida of the nipple
- Topical miconazole 2% to the nipple after each breastfeed
- baby: PO miconazole gel or nystatin
Breast Pain (Mastalgia)
types
cyclical
non cyclical
Breast Pain (Mastalgia)
what may non-cyclical breast pain be caused by
- Medications (e.g., hormonal contraceptive medications)
- Infection (e.g., mastitis)
- Pregnancy
no originating from breast:
- costochondritis
- shingles, post-herpetic neuralgia
Breast Pain (Mastalgia)
3 things to exclude when presenting with breast pain
- cancer
- infection
- pregnancy
Breast Pain (Mastalgia)
what can help diagnose cyclical breast pain
a breast pain diary
Breast Pain (Mastalgia)
mnx of cyclical breast pain
- supprotive bra
- NSAIDs
- avoid caffeine
- heat
- Hormonal treatments (e.g., danazol and tamoxifen) under specialist guidance
Breast Cancer
what does triple assessment involve
- clinical assessment (hx + exam)
- imaging (US or mammography)
- histology (fine needle aspiration or core biopsy)
Breast Cancer
clinical features which may suggest its breast cancer
- hard, irregular, painless or fixed in place lumps
- lump tethered to skin or chest wall
- nipple retraction
- skin dimpling or oedema (peau d’orange)
Breast Cancer
when should you do a 2 week wait referral
- unexplained breast lump in patients ≥ 30
- unilateral nipple changes in patients ≥50 (discharge, retraction or other changes)
- unexplained lump in the axilla in patients ≥ 30
- skin changes suggestive of breast cancer
Breast Cancer
when should you consider a non-urgent referral
unexplained breast lumps in patients <30
Fibroadenoma
what are they
benign tumours of stromal/epithelial breast duct tissue
‘breast mouse’
Fibroadenoma
what age group are they common in
20 - 40
Fibroadenoma
what do they respond to
the female hormones (oestrogen and progesterone)
Fibroadenoma
examination findings
- painless
- smooth
- round
- well circumscribed
- firm
- mobile
- usually up to 3cm
Fibroadenoma
are they associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer
no
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
what are they
generalised lumpiness to the breast
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
when do these changes fluctuate
with the menstral cycle
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
when do symptoms occur in the the menstrual cycle
prior to menstruating (within 10 days) and resolve once menstruation begins
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
symptoms
different areas of the breast, or both breasts, with:
- Lumpiness
- Breast pain or tenderness (mastalgia)
- Fluctuation of breast size
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
options to manage cyclical breast pain
- supportive bra
- NSAIDs
- avoid caffeine
- apply heat
- hormonal trx (e.g., danazol and tamoxifen) under specialist guidance
what are the most common cause of breast lumps
breast cysts
Breast Cysts
do they increase risk of breast cancer
it may slightly
Breast Cysts
examination findings
Smooth
Well-circumscribed
Mobile
Possibly fluctuant
Breast Cysts
affected by menstrual period?
may fluctuate in size over the menstrual cycle.
Fat necrosis
what is it
a benign lump formed by localised degeneration and scarring of fat tissue in the breast
Fat necrosis
what is it commonly triggered by
- localised trauma
- radiotherapy
- surgery
Fat necrosis
how do the triggers cause fibrosis and necrosis of fat tissue
inflammatory reaction
Fat necrosis
does it increase the risk of breast cancer
no
Fat necrosis
examination findings
- painless
- firm
- irregular
- fixed in local structures
- may be skin dimpling or nipple inversion
Fat necrosis
what may US or mammogram show
similar appearance to breast cancer.
Fat necrosis
what may be required to confirm the dx and exclude breast cancer
histology (by fine needle aspiration or core biopsy)
Fat necrosis
mnx
- conservative, resolved spontaneously with time
- surgical excision may be used if required for sx
Lipoma
what are they
benign tumours of fat (adipose) tissue
Lipoma
examination findings
- soft
- painless
- mobile
- do not cause skin changes
Lipoma
trx
treated conservatively with reassurance. Alternatively, they can be surgically removed.
Galactocele
what are they
breast milk filled cysts that occur when the lactiferous duct is blocked, preventing the gland from draining milk
Galactocele
who do they commonly occur in
lactating women who have stopped breastfeeding
Galactocele
presentation
firm, mobile, painless lump, usually beneath the areola.
Galactocele
trx
resolve without any treatment. It is possible to drain them with a needle.
Rarely, they can become infected and require antibiotics.
Phyllodes tumour
what are they
rare tumours of the connective tissue (stroma) of the breast, occurring most often between ages 40 and 50
Phyllodes tumour
features
- large
- fast growing
Phyllodes tumour
types
benign (~50%), borderline (~25%) or malignant (~25%)
Phyllodes tumour
trx
surgical removal of the tumour and wide excision
chemo if malignant
Gynaecomastia
what is it
enlargement of the glandular breast tissue in males
Gynaecomastia
which hormones stimulate glandular breast tissue development
oestrogen and prolactin
Gynaecomastia
why can antipsychotic medication cause gynaecomastia
they are dopamine antagonists
dopamine inhibits prolactin
less dopamine = more prolactin = gynaecomastia and galactorrhea
Gynaecomastia
why can there be gynaecomastia in adolescents
proportionally higher oestrogen levels around puberty
Gynaecomastia
causes (conditions that increase oestrogen)
- obesity (aromatase converts androgens to oestrogen)
- testicular cancer (oestrogen secretion from Leydig cell tumour)
- liver cirrhosis + liver failure
- hyperthyroidism
- hCG secreting tumour (e.g. small cell lung cancer)
man presenting with gynaecomastia. what additional examination should be performed
testicular examination for leydig cell tumour
Also, examine for signs of liver failure and hyperthyroidism.
Gynaecomastia
causes (conditions that reduce testosterone)
- testosterone deficiency in older age
- hypothalamus or pituitary conditions that reduce LH + FSH (tumour, radio, surgery)
- Klinefelter syndrome (XXY sex chromosomes)
- orchitis (infection of testicles with mumps)
- testicular damage
Gynaecomastia
drug causes
- Anabolic steroids (raise oestrogen levels)
- Antipsychotics (increase prolactin levels)
- Digoxin (stimulates oestrogen receptors)
- Spironolactone (inhibits testosterone production and blocks testosterone receptors)
- Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists (e.g., goserelin used to treat prostate cancer)
- Opiates (e.g., illicit heroin use)
- Marijuana
- Alcohol
Gynaecomastia
difference between gynaecomastia and breast enlargement due to obesity (pseudogynaecomastia) on palpation
gynaecomastia: firm tissue behind the areolas
obese: tissue soft and more evenly distributed
Gynaecomastia
key points to cover in hx
- age of onset, duration , change over time
- sexual dysfunction (indicates low testosterone)
- breast lumps or skin changes (breast cancer)
- testicular lumps or sx of hyperthyroidism
- medications
- anabolic steroids, illicit drugs or alcohol
Gynaecomastia
key points to cover in examination
- true gynaecomastia vs adipose tissue
- unilateral or bilateral (palpable lumps, skin changes or lymphadenopathy)
- BMI
- testicular exam
- reduced hair (testosterone deficiency)
- liver disease (jaundice, hepatomegaly, spider naevi, ascites)
- hyperthyroidism (sweating, tachycardia, weight loss)
Gynaecomastia
inx for simple gynaecomastia in an otherwise healthy adolescent
watchful waiting
Gynaecomastia
inx for unexplained rapid-onset gynaecomastia in a 30 year old male with no apparent cause
bloods and imaging
Gynaecomastia
trx in problematic causes (e.g. pain or psychological distress)
- tamoxifen (reduces oestrogen in breast tissue)
- surgery
Galactorrhoea
what is it
breast milk production not associated with pregnancy or breastfeeding
Galactorrhoea
what is breast milk produced in response to
prolactin
Galactorrhoea
what produces prolactin
anterior pituitary gland
breast and prostate also produce it
Galactorrhoea
what blocks the secretion of prolactin
dopamine
so dopamine antagonists (i.e., antipsychotic medications) can result in raised prolactin and galactorrhea
Galactorrhoea
what can suppress prolactin secretion
Dopamine agonists (e.g., bromocriptine or cabergoline)
Galactorrhoea
when may milk production start in pregnancy
2nd or 3rd trimester
Galactorrhoea
in pregnancy, what inhibits the secretion of prolactin
Oestrogen and progesterone
Galactorrhoea
in pregnancy, what stimulates breast milk excretion
oxytocin
Galactorrhoea
what stimulates full milk production shortly after birth
response to oxytocin release and a rapid drop in oestrogen and progesterone
Galactorrhoea
what is usually the cause
hyperprolactinaemia
Galactorrhoea
key causes of hyperprolactinaemia
- idiopathic
- prolactinomas
- endocrine: hypothyroidism, PCOS
- meds: dopamine antagonists e.g. antipsychotics
Galactorrhoea
what does prolactin suppress and therefore cause
GnRH by the hypothalamus
leading to reduced LH and FSH release
Galactorrhoea
what does hyperprolactinaemia present with (due to reduced LH and FSH)
- amenorrhoea
- reduced libido
- erectile dysfunction
- gynaecomastia
Galactorrhoea
what are prolactinomas
tumours of the pituitary gland that secrete excessive prolactin
Galactorrhoea
what condition may prolactinomas be associated with
multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1
an autosomal dominant genetic condition
Galactorrhoea
what are microprolactinomas
<10mm
Galactorrhoea
what are macroprolactinomas
> 10mm
Galactorrhoea
what adverse effects can macroadenomas have relating to their size
- Headaches
- Bitemporal hemianopia
Galactorrhoea
why is there bitemporal hemianopia in prolactinomas
- optic chiasm sits just above pituitary gland
- the optic chiasm is where the optic nerves cross over
- Only the nerves fibres containing the signal from the outer visual fields cross over,
- fibres from the inner visual fields continue on the same side
- pituitary tumour of sufficient size will press on the optic chiasm
- outer visual fields in both eyes (the inner visual fields are spared
Galactorrhoea
what conditions can cause nipple discharge that is not breast milk
- mammary duct ectasia
- duct papilloma
- pus from a breast abscess
Galactorrhoea
initial investigations
PREGNANCY TEST
- Serum prolactin
- U&Es
- LFTs
- TFTs
Galactorrhoea
diagnostic inx for pituitary tumour
MRI scan
Galactorrhoea
what can be used to trx the sx of hyperprolactinaemia
Dopamine agonists (e.g., bromocriptine or cabergoline)