MISC - Breast disease

Question 1

Main cause & less common causes of all BLOODY, SEROUS, WATERY discharge from nipple

Answer 1

1. HYPERPLASTIC LESIONS (hyperplasia, papilloma, carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma)
2. Duct ectasia
3. Pregnancy

Question 2

Main cause & less common causes of coloured opalescent discharge from nipple

Answer 2

1. Duct ectasia

2. Cyst

Question 3

Main cause & less common causes of Milky discharge from nipple

Answer 3

1. Physiological

2. Galactorrhoea of endocrine origin

Question 4

What types of nipple discharge does hyperplasic lesion NOT cause?

Answer 4

Coloured opalescent discharge (duct ectasia, cyst)

Milky discharge (physiological, galactorrhoea)

Question 5

(4) Features of missed cancers

Answer 5

1. Young Age (less than 40)
2. Multiple visits with the patient complaining of a similar problem
3. A palpable abnormality which is disregarded because a mammogram is reported as normal
4. Multiple clinicians reviewing the patient without appropriate communication