Disease of the Breast Flashcards
What are coopers ligament?
are bands that attach to the pectoralis major muscle and the fascia of the skin of the breast
Support the breast in the upright position
If these bands are being compressed or invaded by a tumor
What is the breast made up of?
Lies on top of the pectoralis major muscle
Made up of glandular ducts and lobules, connective tissue (Cooper’s ligaments) and fat
Lobes, lobules and alveoli do what?
produce and secrete milk
Ductule, ducts and lactiferous duct are what?
tubes that connect the lobes and nipple to excrete milk
What is the Lactiferous sinus?
Enlargement of the lactiferous duct at the base of the nipple where milk accumulates
What is adipose tissue in the breast
80-85% of breast tissue Holds lobules in place Gives the breast its shape *1/2 of glandular tissue is in the UOQ All women, regardless of size, have the same # of lobes (15-25) w/ 6-10 major ducts that exit the nipple
What are the 7 lymph nodes used to drain the breast?
lateral axillary nodes pectoral nodes subscapular nodes central axillary nodes infraclavicular nodes parasternal nodes supraclavicular nodes
breast development before puberty
Formed early in fetal life from an invagination of the ectoderm
15-25 ducts form the fetal breast at term
Fetal male and female breast tissue
development is the same
Only organ not fully developed at birth
At puberty (in response to stimulation of hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries) female breast development
Increase in alveolar tissue and ductal size
extensive branching of the ductal system
fat deposits
Nipple and areola enlargement
takes 3 to 4 years
usually complete by age 16
What are the 5 Tanner Stages of Breast Development
Stage I: No breast buds
Stage II: Breast buds develop, papillae slightly elevated and areola enlarges
Stage III: Breasts and areolae confluent, elevated
Stage IV: Projection of areola and papilla to form a secondary mound
Stage V: Projection of papillae only, mature stage
Pregnancy/ lactation changes to the breast
Size and turgor increase, increased pigmentation of nipple/areola, nipple enlargement, areolar widening increased # and size of glands, increased branching of ductal system, ducts widen
Protective against breast cancer
Breast size has no relation to amount of milk produced
Postmenopausal changes to the breast
Atrophy of breasts, lobes involute, gets replaced by adipose tissue which is softer, lose support
PE and mammography are easier to interpret
Accessory Nipples
2-6% of population
Located anywhere along the milk line
Frequently multiple are present
Often appear to be moles
Accessory Breast Tissue
Most often occurs in the underarm area
Breast cancer has been reported in these tissues
3 normal abnormalites of the breast
inverted nipples–> sudden needs to be eval
asymmetrical breast
large breasts
What can cause the underdevelopment of breast tissue
Trauma Radiotherapy Breast biopsy (removal of breast bud no breast development during puberty) Gonadal dysgenesis Hypogonadotropin hypogonadism
What are 6 types of exams to do during breast evaluation?
EXAM Mammogram Ultrasound Digital Mammogram MRI Biopsy
What can you not see on a mammogram
Not all cancers will show up
Cannot tell if a nodule is cystic or solid
3 types of biopsy for the breast
Fine needle
Sterotactic
Sentinal node
Mammogram used for?
Only screening method found to decrease mortality of breast cancer
False positives and false negatives can occur
can be used for diagnostic or just screening
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening for women
Routine screening of average-risk women should begin at age 50, instead of age 40.
Routine screening should end at age 74
Women should get screening mammograms every two years instead of every year.
Breast self-exams have little value, based on findings from several large studies.
2 Special circumstances for screening recommendations for women
Women w/ a genetic predisposition to Breast cancer: Combo screening mammo and MRI beginning at age 25 or based on the age of the earliest onset breast cancer in the family
Women w/ FH of Breast cancer but w/o a genetic mutation: Data is inconclusive. Some suggest 5 years before the age of diagnosis
mammography film
Less expensive Readily available Comparable to old films May be less accurate Dense breasts hard to read
digital mammography
More expensive Limited access Difficult to compare to old films Higher rate of false positives Better for premenopausal and dense breasts