Breast Medicine Flashcards
(168 cards)
What are benign breast lumps?
Non-cancerous growths or abnormalities in the breast tissue that do not invade surrounding tissues or metastasize.
What are the common types of benign breast lumps?
Fibroadenoma – Most common in young women.
Breast cysts – Fluid-filled sacs.
Fibrocystic breast changes – Lumpy, tender breasts that fluctuate with the menstrual cycle.
Intraductal papilloma – Small growth inside the milk duct.
Lipoma – Soft, fatty lump.
Phyllodes tumor – Rare, can be benign or borderline.
The most common benign breast lump in young women is ________
Fibroadenoma
What are the characteristic features of fibroadenomas?
Firm, smooth, and well-defined
Highly mobile (“breast mouse”)
Painless
Most commonly seen in young women (<30 years old)
What are the characteristic features of breast cysts?
Fluid-filled
Soft, round, or oval
Can be tender
Fluctuate with the menstrual cycle
Common in perimenopausal women
What are the characteristic features of fibrocystic breast changes?
Lumpy, nodular breasts
Cyclic breast pain and tenderness
Symptoms fluctuate with menstrual cycle
True/False
Q: Fibroadenomas are fixed and immobile.
False – Fibroadenomas are mobile and often called “breast mice.”
What features suggest a benign breast lump rather than a malignant one?
✅ Well-defined borders
✅ Mobile
✅ Soft or rubbery consistency
✅ Painful (sometimes)
🚩 Malignant lumps are often hard, irregular, fixed, and painless.
What investigations are used to assess a breast lump?
Triple assessment:
Clinical examination
Imaging (Ultrasound in young women, Mammogram in older women)
Biopsy (Fine-needle aspiration or core biopsy)
The first-line imaging for breast lumps in women under 40 is __________.
Ultrasound
What is the management of fibroadenoma?
Small and asymptomatic: Reassurance and monitoring.
Large or symptomatic (>3cm): Surgical excision may be considered.
What is the management of breast cysts?
Asymptomatic: No treatment needed.
Symptomatic (painful/enlarged): Fine-needle aspiration for drainage.
Recurrent or complex cysts: Further imaging and possible biopsy.
A 22-year-old woman presents with a smooth, mobile, painless breast lump. It is well-defined and 2cm in size. What is the likely diagnosis and management?
Likely fibroadenoma. Management: Reassurance, ultrasound, and monitoring unless symptomatic.
A 45-year-old woman presents with a soft, fluctuant, and tender lump that changes with her menstrual cycle. What is the likely diagnosis and management?
Likely breast cyst. Management: Ultrasound ± aspiration if symptomatic.
True/False
Q: Breast cysts always require surgical removal.
False – Most cysts resolve or can be managed with aspiration.
Match the breast lump to its typical feature:
Fibroadenoma
Breast cyst
Lipoma
Phyllodes tumor
A. Painless, soft, fatty lump
B. Smooth, mobile, “breast mouse”
C. Fluctuates with menstrual cycle, may be tender
D. Rare, can be benign or borderline malignant
1 → B
2 → C
3 → A
4 → D
When should a benign breast lump be referred to a breast specialist?
If suspicious features are present (hard, fixed, irregular).
If rapidly growing.
If persistent or recurrent after aspiration.
Define Mastitis
: inflammation of the breast, typically due to infection. ○ Divided into lactational and non-lactational (duct ectasia)
Define Breast Abscess
discrete collection of pus due to infection.
What is the most common causative organism of mastitis?
Staphylococcus aureus.
Causes of Lactational mastitis:
○ Combination of breastfeeding-related nipple trauma and milk stasis predisposes the breast to local infection.
Causes of Duct ectasia mastitis:
Blockage of lactiferous ducts due to squamous metaplasia leads to dilatation and inflammation. ○ Strongly associated with cigarette smoking.
Causes of Abscess
Progression of untreated infective mastitis; walled-off collection of infection forms.
Symptoms of mastitis/absesses
fever, breast pain / tenderness (often during breastfeeding)