Inflammation Of The Breast

Question 1

When does breast inflammation or infection most frequently occur?

Answer 1

During lactation

Question 2

What are 5 characteristics of mastitis?

Answer 2

1. Skin thickening or edema
2. Altered tissue echogenicity
3. Increased volume of the gland
4. Ductal ectasia
5. Dilation of the lymph vessels parallel to the skin

Question 3

Mastitis

Answer 3

Inflammation of the breast

Question 4

Acute mastitis

Answer 4

A sudden inflammation of the breast tissue

Question 5

What is acute mastitis often caused by? (4)

Answer 5

1. Bacterial infection
2. Breast infection
3. Trauma to the breast
4. Mechanical obstruction of the ducts

Question 6

When does acute mastitis typically occur?

Answer 6

During lactation

Question 7

Where is acute mastitis often confined to?

Answer 7

One area of the breast

Question 8

How does acute mastitis present? (3)

Answer 8

1. Erythema (redness) localized to one area of the breast
2. Warm
3. Painful to the touch

Question 9

What type of bacterial infection is the most common cause of acute mastitis?

Answer 9

Staphylococus aureus

Question 10

Diffuse mastitis

Answer 10

When the infection is carried by the lymphatics or blood vessels throughout the entire breast

Question 11

Acute postpartum mastitis

Answer 11

Localized cellulitis caused by bacterial invasion through an irritated or cracked nipple

Question 12

What is acute postpartum mastits precipitated by?

Answer 12

Milk stasis

Question 13

Chronic mastitis

Answer 13

Inflammation of the glandular tissue of the breast over a long period of time

Question 14

Who is chronic mastitis most commonly found?

Answer 14

Elderly patients

Question 15

What is chronic mastitis caused by?

Answer 15

Thickening of the connective tissue that results in narrowing of the milk ducts

Question 16

What are 2 side effects that can be present with chronic mastitis?

Answer 16

1. Nipple discharge
2. Possibly nipple retraction

Question 17

What is the most common form of mastitis?

Answer 17

Puerperal mastitis

Question 18

When does puerperal mastitis occur? (3)

Answer 18

1. Puerperal period
   - up to 6 weeks after childbirth
2. During lactation
3. Secondary breastfeeding

Question 19

What is a secondary cause for puerperal mastitis?

Answer 19

Obstruction of a lactiferous duct

Question 20

Ballottement

Answer 20

Techniques for palpating an organ or floating structure by bouncing it gently and feeling it rebound

Question 21

What is ballottement used for?

Answer 21

To detect movement of the detached solid necrotic tissue within an abscess

Question 22

What is shown with ballottement?

Answer 22

Colour swoosh is shown as the necrotic tissue moves back and forth

Question 23

Periductal mastitis

Answer 23

Non-dilated, subareolar ducts become infected and inflamed

Question 24

What age is most affected by periductal mastitis?

Answer 24

32 year olds

Question 25

What are 2 side effects of periductal mastits?

Answer 25

1. Periareolar inflammation 2. Tender breasts

Question 26

What are 2 things that can occur with periductal mastitis?

Answer 26

1. Nipple discharge 2. Nipple retraction

Question 27

What can be associated with periductal mastits? (2)

Answer 27

1. Inflammatory mass 2. Abscess

Question 28

How are abscesses created?

Answer 28

Plugging of a lactiferous duct

Question 29

How do abscesses present? (4)

Answer 29

1. Localized breast area 2. Edematous 3. Erythematous - red 3. Warm 4. Painful

Question 30

What kind of skin occurs with abscesses?

Answer 30

Glistening skin

Question 31

What are 3 symptoms of an abscess?

Answer 31

1. Fever 2. Vomiting 3. Spontaneous drainage from the mass or nipple

Question 32

Where are abscesses most commonly located?

Answer 32

Areolar or periareolar area

Question 33

What can be involve with abscesses? (2)

Answer 33

1. Painful axially nodes 2. Nipple inversion

Question 34

What are the most common organisms associated with a breast abscess? (2)

Answer 34

1. Staphylococcus aureus 2. Streptococcal species

Question 35

What are acute abscess borders like? What happens when they become chronic?

Answer 35

1. Ill-defined 2. Become more well defined

Question 36

How do acute abscess show on US? (3)

Answer 36

1. Irregular borders 2. Thick walls 3. Central fluid collection flanked by free air within the mass

Question 37

How do chronic abscess show on US? (3)

Answer 37

1. More defined 2. Central fluid 3. Posterior enhancement

Question 38

Edema of the breast

Answer 38

An abnormal infiltration and excess accumulation of serous fluid in connective tissue

Question 39

When is it common to get edema?

Answer 39

Premenstrual - before mensuration (breast filling)

Question 40

What is a potential cause of edema? (2)

Answer 40

1. Post surgical 2. Radiation