CLINICAL SKILLS - BREAST EXAMINATION

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Hello my name is Anjali Singh and I am a third year medical student. Please can i confirm your name, age and DOB?

Nice to meet you.

Today I have been asked to examine your breasts. This will involve me having a look and feel of your breasts - would that be ok?

Before I start are you in any pain at all?

For this examination it will require you to be bare above the waist if that is ok? and the examiner will be acting as the chaperone.

Question 2

The procedure

Answer 2

The first thing I am going to do is I am going to ask you to do a few movements if that is ok?

Please can you swing your legs round the bed and sit up for me?

Can you put your hands behind your head like this and put your hands on the hip?

there are no signs of:

• assymetry
• nipple discharge
• inverted nipples
• rash on areolas
• visible lumps
• tethering
• peau d’orange

Can you feel a tugging feel in at all?

Hands above head

• this allows me to see the intra-mamillary folds and the underside of the breast tissue

Now can you lie down

Please can you raise your left hand behind your head like this

Question 3

The examination (7)

Answer 3

1. flat hand
2. feel around the breast - quadrants
3. areolar complex
4. tail of spence
5. axilla
6. supra-clavicular fossa and down to the sternum
7. examine breast

Question 4

End of examinations

Answer 4

that is now the end of the examination.

You can now dress yourself