Breast cancer physical examination

Breast Cancer Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Breast cancer from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic study of choice
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
X-ray
CT scan
MRI
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
Other Imaging Studies
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Breast cancer physical examination On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Breast cancer physical examination All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Breast cancer physical examination
CDC on Breast cancer physical examination
Breast cancer physical examination in the news
Blogs on Breast cancer physical examination
Directions to Hospitals Treating Breast cancer
Risk calculators and risk factors for Breast cancer physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mirdula Sharma, MBBS [2]

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.

Neck

Enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes

Breast

• Lump

• 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
• The lump may be tender, but it is usually not painful.

• 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

Respiratory

Signs of metastasis

• Pleural effusion
• Consolidation

Abdomen

Signs of metastasis to liver

• Jaundice
• Hepatomegaly
• Ascites

Extremity

Signs of metastasis

• Bone tenderness
• Pathological fractures

Neuromuscular

Signs of metastasis

• Headache
• Seizure
• Personality change
• Papilloedema