CM- Evaluation of Breast Disease Flashcards
Describe the proper technique for examination of the breasts.
Inspection:
- patient sitting with arms at their sides
- arms raised over their heads
- hands on their hips
- pay attention to:
- symmetry of size, configuration, ptosis,
- skin appearance [peau d’orange]
- nipple deformity or excoriation
- retractions
Palpation:
- cervical, supraclavicular, axillary nodes with patient sitting
- have patient supine with hand abducted over their head
- with flat palmar surface of the fingers palpate in wedges from outer to nipple or in concentric circles from outer to nipple
What are the 4 ways the breast tissue is characterized with respect to consistency?
- soft or fatty
- rubbery or glandular
- finely nodular or granular
- lumpy or diffusely nodular
If you find a dominant mass during a breast exam, how should you characterize it?
- location [oclock to the nipple]
- size measured with a ruler
- consistency
- borders
- fixed or mobile
How does the 5YSR differ for local breast cancer vs metastatic disease?
Local = 98% survival rate Mets = 25% survival rate
In the patient history, if they document breast pain, what questions should be asked?
- location
- duration
- relationship to the menstrual cycle
- caffeine [FCD]
- trauma to the breast [fat necrosis]
If the patient presents with a history of breast mass, what 5 questions must you ask?
- size and consistency
- how long has it been there?
- has it changed size?
- does it cause pain?
- Associated signs like fever, erythema, focal tenderness?
If a patient presents complaining of nipple discharge, what questions do you need to ask?
- color and consistency?
- unilateral or bilateral
- multi-ductal or uniductal
- spontaneous or induced by manipulation
- Meds? Current illicit drugs?
How does screening mammography differ from diagnostic mammography?
Screening:
- asymptomatic woman
- 2 view of each breast [cranio-caudal and medial/lateral/oblique
- performed without radiologist in attendance
Diagnostic
- woman has a problem to evaluate
- 3 views [same 2 as screening plus medial lateral]
- spot compression and magnification views in the area of concern
- performed with radiologist present
What is the main limitation of mammography?
In women <30, the breast tissue is very dense and can obscure detection of even a large mass that would be palpable by physical exam [false neg in 11-25% of cases]
Predictive value of mammography is much greater for patients over 50yr of age
What is the utility of US in viewing breast masses?
Why is it not a good screening tool?
- differentiates cystic masses from solid masses.
- used instead of mammography for dense glandular breasts of young women or nodular dense fibrotic breasts
- used to evaluate pregnant or lactating women’s breasts
It is not a good SCREENING tool because:
- its accuracy is not good for lesions <1cm
- it cannot identify small clusters of calcifications
What is the utlity of MRI for breast pathology?
- inflammatory lesions suspicious for cancer
- soft tissue masses
- breast implant ruptures
You discover a breast lesion that is smooth, round and lobulated, mobile, discrete and of soft/rubbery consistency. Is it “probably benign” or “probably maligant’?
probably benign
- fibroadenoma
- cyst
- intraductal papilloma
- phyllodes
- sebaceous cyst
- cystosarcoma
7 lipoma
8 metastatic melanoma - primary breast cancer
You discover a breast mass that is irregular in shape, immobile with respect to adjacent breast tissue, skin and chest wall.
It is rock ard in consistency. Is this “probably benign” or “probably malignant’?
What is the DDx?
Probably malignant
- cancer
- fibrocystic changes
- infection
- fat necrosis
What is the clinical presentation of fat necrosis?
How does it occur?
What does it mimic on PE and mammography?
What needs to be done to definitely confirm the diagnosis?
It is a benign condition that can mimic breast cancer on physical exam and mammography [stellate mass with calcifications].
It is common in large breasted women that have experienced breast trauma.
The mass is superficial and often involves skin retraction.
You need to do a SURGICAL BIOPSY NOT FNA because fine needle aspirations will lack breast epithelial cells in the aspirate and be “non-diagnostic’
What are the steps of management in women over 30 when a breast mass is felt on PE?
- mammography +/- ultrasound
- If it is solid–> Core needle biopsy/FNA
If it is benign - excise or observe
If it is malignant or atypical- excise/definitive therapy - If it is cystic–> aspirate
If the cyst disappears –> follow routine
If there is residual mass/blood–> excise or core biopsy
What are the steps of management for a woman under 30 when a breast mass is felt on PE?
- Ultrasound
- if it is solid —> core needle biopsy/FNA
- benign –> excise or observe
- malignant–> GET MAMMOGRAM, excise/definitive therapy - If it is cystic –> aspirate/observe
cyst disappears–> follow routine
residual mass or bloody fluid-> excise or core biopsy