Breast cancer physical examination: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Peau d’ orange Appearance in Breast cancer.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Peau d’ orange''' appearance in breast cancer. Case courtesy of Rajendran MC. <nowiki>http://generalsurgeryclinics.blogspot.com/2013/06/peau-d-orange-appearance-in-carcinoma.html</nowiki>]] | [[Image:Peau d’ orange Appearance in Breast cancer.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Peau d’ orange''' appearance in breast cancer. Case courtesy of Rajendran MC. <nowiki>http://generalsurgeryclinics.blogspot.com/2013/06/peau-d-orange-appearance-in-carcinoma.html</nowiki>]] | ||
{{Breast cancer}} | {{Breast cancer}} | ||
{{CMG}} {{AE}}{{ | {{CMG}} {{AE}}{{Soroush}}{{MGS}} | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
[[Patient|Patients]] with breast cancer usually are generally well appearing. [[Physical examination]] of [[Patient|patients]] with breast cancer is usually remarkable for [[lump]] in the breast, peau d'orange, and inverted [[nipple]]. | [[Patient|Patients]] with breast cancer usually are generally well appearing. [[Physical examination]] of [[Patient|patients]] with breast cancer is usually remarkable for [[lump]] in the breast, peau d'orange, and inverted [[nipple]]. | ||
==Physical Examination== | ==Physical Examination== | ||
===General Appearance=== | ===General Appearance=== | ||
*[[Patient|Patients]] with breast cancer are generally well appearing. [[Patient|Patients]] are generally oriented to time, place, and person.<ref name="PE">Breast Cancer. Ganfyd (2015) http://www.ganfyd.org/index.php?title=Breast_cancer#Presenting_Symptoms Accessed on january 16, 2016</ref><ref name="ss">Breast cancer. Canadian Cancer Society (2015) http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/signs-and-symptoms/?region=on#ixzz3xScycfqv Accessed on January 16, 2016</ref> | *[[Patient|Patients]] with breast cancer are generally well appearing. [[Patient|Patients]] are generally oriented to time, place, and person.<ref name="PE">Breast Cancer. Ganfyd (2015) http://www.ganfyd.org/index.php?title=Breast_cancer#Presenting_Symptoms Accessed on january 16, 2016</ref><ref name="ss">Breast cancer. Canadian Cancer Society (2015) http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/signs-and-symptoms/?region=on#ixzz3xScycfqv Accessed on January 16, 2016</ref> | ||
*Nevertheless, in late stages patients appear ill, pale, and might present with decreased level of consciousness. | |||
===Skin=== | |||
With respect to the disease stage and complications, the skin could be either normal, pale, or icteric. | |||
===Vital Signs=== | ===Vital Signs=== | ||
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===Neck=== | ===Neck=== | ||
*Enlarged [[Supraclavicular lymph nodes|supraclavicular]] [[Lymph node|lymph nodes]] | *Enlarged [[Supraclavicular lymph nodes|supraclavicular]] [[Lymph node|lymph nodes]] | ||
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===Heart=== | ===Heart=== | ||
* Cardiovascular examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal/none contributory. | * Cardiovascular examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal/none contributory. | ||
===Breast=== | ===Breast=== | ||
*[[Lump]] | *[[Lump]] | ||
:*May be attached to the skin or [[chest]] wall and cannot be moved. | :*May be attached to the skin or [[chest]] wall and cannot be moved. | ||
:*The [[lump]] may feel hard, irregular in shape and very different from the rest of the [[breast]] [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]] | :*The [[lump]] may feel hard, irregular in shape and very different from the rest of the [[breast]] [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]] | ||
:*The [[lump]] maybe [[Tenderness (medicine)|tender]], but it is usually not [[Pain|painful]]. | :*The [[lump]] maybe [[Tenderness (medicine)|tender]], but it is usually not [[Pain|painful]]. | ||
*Dimpling of the skin | *Dimpling of the skin | ||
*[[Peau d'orange]] | *[[Peau d'orange]] | ||
:*Thickening and dimpling of the skin | :*Thickening and dimpling of the skin | ||
*Change in size of affected [[breast]] | *Change in size of affected [[breast]] | ||
*Inverted [[nipple]] | *Inverted [[nipple]] | ||
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===Abdomen=== | ===Abdomen=== | ||
* Abdominal examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal/none contributory, particularly in the early stages. | * Abdominal examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal/none contributory, particularly in the early stages. | ||
*In metastatic breast cancer the following abnormalities might be present: | *In metastatic breast cancer the following abnormalities might be present: | ||
:*[[Abdominal distension]] | :*[[Abdominal distension]] | ||
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:*[[Hepatomegaly]] / [[splenomegaly]] / [[hepatosplenomegaly]] | :*[[Hepatomegaly]] / [[splenomegaly]] / [[hepatosplenomegaly]] | ||
:*Shifting dollness suggesting [[Ascites]] | :*Shifting dollness suggesting [[Ascites]] | ||
===Back=== | ===Back=== | ||
*Back examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal, particularly in the early stages. | *Back examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal, particularly in the early stages. | ||
*In metastatic disease, vertebrae is one of the most common sites of metastasis, hence point tenderness over the vertebrae is quite common. | *In metastatic disease, vertebrae is one of the most common sites of metastasis, hence point tenderness over the vertebrae is quite common. | ||
===Genitourinary=== | ===Genitourinary=== | ||
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===Neuromuscular=== | ===Neuromuscular=== | ||
* Neuromuscular examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal. | * Neuromuscular examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal. | ||
*Patient is usually oriented to persons, place, and time | *Patient is usually oriented to persons, place, and time | ||
* Altered mental status | * Altered mental status is possible in late-stage disease with brain metastasis, electrolyte abnormality or severe lung or liver disease due to metastasis. | ||
:* Clonus may be present | |||
* Clonus may be present | :* Reflex abnormalities either hyperreflexia/hyporeflexia/areflexia due to CNS metastasis or electrolyte disturbance | ||
* | :* Positive (abnormal) Babinski / plantar reflex unilaterally/bilaterally in brain metastasis | ||
* Positive (abnormal) Babinski / plantar reflex unilaterally/bilaterally | :* Peripheral nephropathy is the common complication of breast cancer chemotherapy. | ||
* | ::* Unilateral/bilateral sensory loss in the upper/lower extremity is probable finding in patients treated with | ||
*Unilateral/bilateral sensory loss in the upper/lower extremity | |||
===Extremities=== | ===Extremities=== | ||
* Extremities examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal. | * Extremities examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal. | ||
* The followings are suggesting metastatic disorder: | |||
* | :*[[Cyanosis]] in lung metastasis | ||
*[[Cyanosis]] | :*Pitting[[edema]] of the lower extremities suggesting malnutrition and liver involvement | ||
*Pitting | :*Muscle atrophy due to malnutrition is late stage metastatic cancer | ||
*Muscle atrophy | :*[[Bone]] [[tenderness]] | ||
* | :*[[Pathology (disambiguation)|Pathological]] [[Bone fracture|fractures]] | ||
==References== | ==References== |
Latest revision as of 23:13, 1 October 2019
Breast Cancer Microchapters |
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Breast cancer physical examination On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Soroush Seifirad, M.D.[2] Mirdula Sharma, MBBS [3]
Overview
Patients with breast cancer usually are generally well appearing. Physical examination of patients with breast cancer is usually remarkable for lump in the breast, peau d'orange, and inverted nipple.
Physical Examination
General Appearance
- Patients with breast cancer are generally well appearing. Patients are generally oriented to time, place, and person.[1][2]
- Nevertheless, in late stages patients appear ill, pale, and might present with decreased level of consciousness.
Skin
With respect to the disease stage and complications, the skin could be either normal, pale, or icteric.
Vital Signs
- Vital signs are generally normal in early stages.
- In the advanced disease state, almost any abnormality is possible due to brain, bone, liver, and lung metastases.
HEENT
- HEENT examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal, particularly in the early stages.
- In metastatic breast cancer the following abnormalities might be present:
- Icteric sclera due to liver metastasis
- Ophthalmoscopic exam may be abnormal with findings of increased ICP due to brain metastasis.
- Erythematous throat with/without tonsillar swelling, exudates, and/or petechiae due to chemotherapy or widespread disease immunosuppression.
Neck
- Enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes
Lungs
- Pulmonary examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal, particularly in early stages.
- In metastatic breast cancer the following abnormalities might be present suggesting consolidation and pleural effusion due to metastatic disorder::
- Asymmetric chest expansion OR decreased chest expansion
- Hyporesonant lung auscultation
- Fine/coarse crackles upon auscultation of the lung bases either unilaterally or bilaterally
- Rhonchi
- Vesicular breath sounds OR distant breath sounds
- Normal/reduced tactile fremitus
Heart
- Cardiovascular examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal/none contributory.
Breast
- Dimpling of the skin
- Peau d'orange
- Thickening and dimpling of the skin
- Change in size of affected breast
- Inverted nipple
- Redness, swelling and increased warmth - in inflammatory breast cancer
- Crusting, ulcers or scaling on the nipple - in Paget's disease of breast
- Discharge from nipple - mostly bloody
Abdomen
- Abdominal examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal/none contributory, particularly in the early stages.
- In metastatic breast cancer the following abnormalities might be present:
- Abdominal distension
- Abdominal tenderness in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant
- A palpable abdominal mass in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant due to peritoneal seeding
- Hepatomegaly / splenomegaly / hepatosplenomegaly
- Shifting dollness suggesting Ascites
Back
- Back examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal, particularly in the early stages.
- In metastatic disease, vertebrae is one of the most common sites of metastasis, hence point tenderness over the vertebrae is quite common.
Genitourinary
- Genitourinary examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal.
Neuromuscular
- Neuromuscular examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal.
- Patient is usually oriented to persons, place, and time
- Altered mental status is possible in late-stage disease with brain metastasis, electrolyte abnormality or severe lung or liver disease due to metastasis.
- Clonus may be present
- Reflex abnormalities either hyperreflexia/hyporeflexia/areflexia due to CNS metastasis or electrolyte disturbance
- Positive (abnormal) Babinski / plantar reflex unilaterally/bilaterally in brain metastasis
- Peripheral nephropathy is the common complication of breast cancer chemotherapy.
- Unilateral/bilateral sensory loss in the upper/lower extremity is probable finding in patients treated with
Extremities
- Extremities examination of patients with breast cancer is usually normal.
- The followings are suggesting metastatic disorder:
- Cyanosis in lung metastasis
- Pittingedema of the lower extremities suggesting malnutrition and liver involvement
- Muscle atrophy due to malnutrition is late stage metastatic cancer
- Bone tenderness
- Pathological fractures
References
- ↑ Breast Cancer. Ganfyd (2015) http://www.ganfyd.org/index.php?title=Breast_cancer#Presenting_Symptoms Accessed on january 16, 2016
- ↑ Breast cancer. Canadian Cancer Society (2015) http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/signs-and-symptoms/?region=on#ixzz3xScycfqv Accessed on January 16, 2016