Breast lumps physical examination

Breast lumps Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Breast lumps 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
MRI
Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Breast lumps 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 lumps 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 lumps physical examination
on Breast lumps physical examination
Breast lumps physical examination in the news
Blogs on Breast lumps physical examination
Directions to Hospitals Treating Breast lumps
Risk calculators and risk factors for Breast lumps physical examination

Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It's easy! Click here to learn about editing.

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

Physical Examination

Physical examination of patients should perform both in sitting position and supine position to examine breast abnormalities.

Appearance of the patient

• Patients with breast lumps usually appear well.

Vital signs

• Patients with breast lumps usually have normal vital signs.

Skin

• Patients' breast skin may develop with dimpling, redness and peaud'orange particularly in inflammatory breast cancer.

HEENT

• HEENT examination of patient with breast lumps is usually normal.

Neck

• Lymphadenopathy maybe present in cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes and determination of size, mobility and number are essential.

Lungs

• Pulmonary examination of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

Heart

• Cardiovascular examination of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

Breast

• Breast examination must consider 4 quadrant parts of both breast while patients are in sitting position and supine position.
• General inspection of both breast for probable findings of nipple changes, asymmetric changes and notable masses.
• Size, location, shape, mobility, consistency and number of lesions should be mentioned.
• Axillary lymph nodes must be examined for adenopathy
• Examination of nipple discharge
  • From one duct or multiple ducts
  • Presence or absence of galactorrhea
  • Presence or absence of blood
  • Type of discharge such as being clear, viscous, watery or bloody
• Determination of chest wall pain
  • Examination of costochondral junction
  • Examination of lateral chest wall while the patient is lying down at 90 degrees on her side in order to move the breast away
  • Comparison of pain from chest wall and breast tissue

Discrete solitary breast lump:

• Firm and rubbery lump in women<30 years is in favor of:
  • Fibroadenoma
• Firm and discrete lump in women aged 30-50 years is suggestive of:
  • Fibroadenoma
  • Cyst
  • Fibrocystic changes
  • Usual ductal hyperplasia
  • Atypical ductal hyperplasia
  • Atypical lobular hyperplasia
• Firm and discrete lump in women> 50 years is in suggestive of:
  • Cyst
  • Invasive cancer
  • Ductal carcinoma in situ

Abdomen

• Abdomen examination of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

Back

• Back examination of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

Genitourinary

• Genitourinary examination of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

Neuromuscular

• Neuromuscular examination of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

Extremities

• Extremities of patients with breast lumps is usually normal.

References

Template:WikiDoc Sources