|bgcolor="Beige"| [[Breast|Aberration of normal development and involution (ANDI)]], [[Fibroadenoma|Breast fibroadenoma]], [[Chronic cystic mastitis]], [[Fibroadenoma|Fibro-adenosis of the newborn]], [[Fibroadenoma]], [[Galactocele]], [[Fibroadenoma|Giant fibroadenoma]], [[Pregnancy|Glandular thickening due to hormonal changes of pregnancy]], [[Gynecomastia]], [[Fibroadenoma|Hyalinized fibroadenoma]], [[Premenstrual syndrome]], [[Breast cyst|Simple cyst]]
|bgcolor="Beige"| [[Breast|Aberration of normal development and involution (ANDI)]], [[fibroadenoma|breast fibroadenoma]], [[chronic cystic mastitis]], [[fibroadenoma|fibro-adenosis of the newborn]], [[fibroadenoma]], [[galactocele]], [[fibroadenoma|giant fibroadenoma]], [[pregnancy|glandular thickening due to hormonal changes of pregnancy]], [[gynecomastia]], [[fibroadenoma|hyalinized fibroadenoma]], [[premenstrual syndrome]], [[breast cyst|simple cyst]]
Breast lumps, or breast palpable masses, are the second most common breast symptoms, after mastalgia. These must be distinguished from the normal nodularity of the breast.[1] They can be of cystic or solid nature, which can’t be appropriately distinguished just based on physical examination.[2] Usually a breast lump is only palpable after reaching 2 cm of diameter.[3]Breast lumps are more commonly found in premenopausal women, becoming less frequent with age.[4]
The most common etiologies are fibroadenomas, cysts and carcinomas. The probability of malignancy on a breast lump increases with age.[5]
Factors like the woman’s age and physical characteristics of the mass, palpated by the clinician, may provide clues about its etiology on an initial assessment. However, a definitive diagnosis must be pursued, since all breast lumps warrant thorough evaluation.[6]
Every palpable mass, whose benign nature cannot be appropriately determined by ultrasound, will require biopsy for tissue diagnosis. This also applies to lesions that cannot be visualized by mammography. The role of the mammography in this setting is also to look for other coincident lesions that may not be palpated.[7]
↑Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson.; Robbins, Stanley L. (Stanley Leonard); Cotran, Ramzi S. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disea. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN978-0-7216-0187-8.
↑Andreoli, Thomas E.; Cecil, Russell L. (Russell La Fayette) (2010). Andreoli and Carpenter's Cecil essentials of medicin. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN978-1-4160-6109-0.
↑Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson.; Robbins, Stanley L. (Stanley Leonard); Cotran, Ramzi S. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disea. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN978-0-7216-0187-8.
↑Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson.; Robbins, Stanley L. (Stanley Leonard); Cotran, Ramzi S. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disea. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN978-0-7216-0187-8.
↑Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson.; Robbins, Stanley L. (Stanley Leonard); Cotran, Ramzi S. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disea. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN978-0-7216-0187-8.
↑Bickley, Lynn S.; Szilagyi, Peter G.; Bates, Barbara (2009). Bates' guide to physical examination and history taki. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams Wilkins. ISBN0-7817-8058-6.
↑Andreoli, Thomas E.; Cecil, Russell L. (Russell La Fayette) (2010). Andreoli and Carpenter's Cecil essentials of medicin. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN978-1-4160-6109-0.