CP6-1 breast pathology Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is health screening?
The process of identifying people who appear health but may be at an increased risk of a disease
Who is eligible for breast screening?
Women aged 50-71
How often are eligible women invited to have their breasts screened?
3 years
What is the aim of breast screening?
To reduce mortality from breast cancer
Why might women be exempt from breast screening?
They have had bilateral mastectomies
Individually opt out of screening
Ceased under a best interests decision
What is the AgeX research trial?
A research trial to see if extending age range to 47-73 for breast screening will reduce breast cancer mortality - first report to be in 2026
What are the two types of breast screening?
Prevalent screening - first invitation to routine screening
Incident screening - routine invitations to those who have been screened before
In 90% of cases, when will results of breast screening be provided?
Within 2 weeks
What is the symptomatic presentation of breast cancer?
Lump or thickening in the breast
Change in nipple
Change in feel or look of the breast
Pain or discomfort in breast of armpit
Swelling or lump in the armpit
What is triple assessment?
Clinical, imaging and pathology
Clinical = age and examination
Imaging = ultrasound and mammogram
Pathology = fine needle aspiration cytology or core-cut biopsy
How is triple assessment scored?
Each section of the assessment is scored out of 5 based on how it looks clinically (P), radiologically (R) and pathologically (B).
1 = normal
2 = benign lesion
3 = atypical
4 = atypical probably malignant
5 = malignant
How is pathological staging further subdivided?
B3 split between uncertain malignant potential with and without epithelial atypia
B5 split into a (malignant in situ), b (malignant invasive) and c (malignant not assessable)
How does breast tissue differ between male and female breasts?
Unlike females, males have no lobules, no terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) and no copper’s ligaments
What breast pathologies can only women have?
Fibroadenomas
Chests arising from breast stroma
What is a definition used to describe female breast tissue?
Modified sweat gland composed of lobes, lobules of glands within fibroadipose stroma and specialised epithelium and stroma.
What are 3 breast pathologies that can be picked up on breast screening?
Fibrocystic disease
Fibroadenoma
Breast cancer
Can you palpate calcification of breast tissue?
No - only seen on mammogram not felt under skin
Who is most likely to have fibrocystic change in breast tissue?
Women aged 20-45 years old
What are characteristics of fibrocystic change?
Usually bilateral and multi focal
No increased risk for subsequent development of carcinoma
What is fibrocystic disease?
Benign, hormonal mediated breast changes (usually due to menopause) including cyst formation, stromal fibrosis, mild epithelial hyperplasia WITHOUT atypia
How do patients with firbocystic disease present?
Lumpy, premenstrually painful breasts
What is a Fibroadenoma?
Benign well defined lesions showing proliferation of both epithelial and stromal components which presents as a mobile painless lump.
Who is at risk of a Fibroadenoma?
Women aged 20-30
More common in Afro Caribbean women
How do fibroadenomas appear on ultrasound?
As a well defined homogenous, hypoechoic mass
