Clinical Care of the Obstetric and Gynecologic Conditions Flashcards
(153 cards)
Painful breast masses that are often multiple and bilateral are caused by what?
Fibrocystic changes.
Pain from fibrocystic breast changes typically worsens during what phase of the cycle?
Premenstrual phase
What hormone is the causative factor of rapid fluctuation in fibrocystic mass size?
Estrogen
*Increased risk in alcohol consumption
This is the most frequent lesion of the breast that typically occurs between ages 30-50, and is typically considered to increase the risk of missing a cancer diagnosis.
Fibrocystic changes
Signs and symptoms of fibrocystic changes
Breast pain or tenderness
Discomfort that worsens during premenstrual phase as cysts enlarge
Fluctuation in size of masses
Multiple or bilateral masses
Absence of lymphadenopathy
Ultrasound should be used alone to diagnose fibrocystic changes in patients under what age?
30
What is the diagnostic test for fibrocystic changes?
Core needle biopsy
What is the treatment of fibrocystic changes?
NSAIDs
Refer to primary care for increased pain symptoms.
How do you educate a patient with fibrocystic changes?
Avoid trauma
Wear supportive bras night and day
Decrease dietary fat and eliminate caffeine
400iu of vitamin E daily
Monthly self breast exams just after menstruation because the risk of not detecting cancer is higher.
This is a common benign neoplasm that occurs most frequently in young women, usually 20 years after puberty and more frequently in black women.
Fibroadenoma
Signs and symptoms of fibroadenoma
Round or ovoid, rubbery mass with discrete margins (defined borders) that is relatively moveable and nontender, 1-5cm in diameter.
How do you treat fibroadenoma?
Referral to general surgery and biopsy. No treatment is typically necessary.
*An excision may be necessary for large or rapidly growing fibroadenomas (3-4cm)
This condition appears as a lesion of the breast that produces a mass often accompanied by skin or nipple retraction.
Fat necrosis
*Ecchymosis is usually present.
What are the typical causes of fat necrosis?
Fat injections for breast augmentations.
Trauma (MVA, assault)
Common after segmental resection, radiation therapy, or flap reconstruction after mastectomy.
This is the second most common cause of cancer in women, and the second leading cause of cancer death.
Female breast carcinoma.
What are the risk factors of female breast carcinoma?
Age
-Most significant factor
-Risk rises rapidly until 60s, peaks in 70s, then declines
Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
-Parent, sibling or child
-Especially bilateral breast cancer or premenopausal
Genetics
-BRCA 1 and 2
Reproductive history
-Nulliparous or late first pregnancy after age 30
-Unapposed estrogen is the cause ***
Menstrual history
-Early menarche <12
-Late menopause >55
Previous medical history
-Endometrial cancer
-Cancer in the other breast
What is the most reliable method of detecting non-palpable breast cancer, and how early can it identify it?
Mammography
At least 2 years before the cancer is palpable.
What are the breast cancer screening timing and frequency recommendations?
Age <40
-Not recommended
Age 40-49
-Shared decision making
-If initiating, suggest screening every 2 years
Age 50-74
-Recommend every 2 years, unless otherwise indicated
Age 75+
-Only if life expectancy is >10 years
What are the symptoms of female breast carcinoma?
Painless lump that is typically discovered by the patient
Breast pain, nipple discharge, nipple abnormalities, breast abnormalities (redness, hardness, enlargement or shrinking)
Axillary mass or swelling, back or joint pain, jaundice, weight loss
What are the physical exam findings of female breast carcinoma?
Early:
-Single, nontender, firm to hard mass with ill defined margins
-Mammogram abnormalities and non-palpable mass
Late:
-Skin or nipple retraction
-Axillary lymphadenopathy
-Breast enlargement, erythema, edema and pain
-Fixation of mass to skin or chest wall
What are the laboratory findings of a patient with female breast carcinoma?
Increased alkaline phosphatase caused by liver or bone metastases.
Increased serum calcium caused by bone metastases.
What is the treatment of female breast carcinoma?
General surgery referral, and depending upon the stage of cancer:
-Surgical resection with axillary node dissection (mastectomy or partial mastectomy)
-Radiation
-Systemic therapy
Local and distant female breast carcinoma recurrences occur most frequently within what time frame?
Patients should be examined how often?
Recurrences most frequently within the first 2-5 years.
During the first 2 years, most patients should be examined every 6 months, then annually thereafter.
What are the general considerations of male breast carcinoma?
It is rare.
Average age is 70.
Increased occurrence in men with prostrate cancer.
First degree relatives of men with breast cancer are at high risk.
BRCA 2 mutation are common.
Prognosis is worse in men.