Breast Surgery Flashcards
What are the components of a Triple Assessment
- Breast examination
- Radiology: ultrasound + mammography
- Pathology: fine needle aspiration + core biopsy
Mastitis - definition
Inflammation of the breast tissue
Mastitis - causes
- Most commonly infection: s. areus
- Can be granulomatous
Mastitis - classification
- Lactational Mastitis
- usually first 3 months of breastfeeding
- associated with cracked nipple + milk stasis - Non-Lactational Mastitis
- usually in women with other breast conditions (e.g duct ectasia)
What is a significant risk factor for Mastitis
Smoking - causes damage to sub-areolar duct walls
Mastitis - Clinical features
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Erythema
Mastitis - Management
- General: antibiotics + analgesia
- Lactational: continue to breastfeed/express
- Severe lactational: Cabergoline to stop lactation
What is the key complication of Mastitis
Breast abscess
Breast abscess - definition
Collection of pus, lined with granulation tissue, in breast
Breast abscess - clinical features
- Systemic
- fever
- malaise - Lump
- tender, fluctuant + erythematous
- has a punctum
Breast Abscess - investigations
Clinical diagnosis
- can use USS if unsure
Breast Abscess - Management
- Non-surgical: antibiotics + needle aspiration
2. Surgical: incision + drainage (complicated abscess)
Breast Abscess - Complications
Mammary duct fistula
- fistula between duct + skin
- requires surgical correction + antibiotics
Breast Cyst - Definition
Epithelial-lined fluid cavity, in breast
Breast Cyst - Cause
- Blockage leads to distention of lobule
- Commonly peri-menopausal women
Breast Cyst - Features
Smooth, distinct mass
- can be tender
- can be multiple
Breast Cyst - Investigations
- Ultrasound: diagnostic
- Mammogram: characteristic ‘halo shape’
- Needle aspiration: if suspecting cancer
How does a needle aspirate exclude cancer with breast cyst
- Absence of blood in aspirate fluid
- Disappearance of lump once drained
Breast Cyst - Management
- Conservative: will resolve on its own
- Non-surgical: needle aspiration (for large cysts)
Breast Cyst - Complications
- Cancer: increases risk, ~1% will present with cancer
2. Fibroadenomas, multiple small cysts cause fibrosis
Duct Ectasia - Definition
Dilatation + shortening of major lactiferous ducts
Duct Ectasia - Clinical features
- Yellow/green coloured nipple discharge
(if blood present need triple assessment) - Palpable mass
- Nipple retraction
Duct Ectasia - Investigation
- Mammogram: dilated, calcified duct
- Biopsy: typically shows multiple plasma cells
Duct Ectasia - Management
- Conservative: will resolve on its own
2. Surgical: duct excision to stop nipple discharge