Breast mass

Last updated
Breast mass
Other namesBreast lump, breast tumor
Breast cancer.jpg
A breast lump associated with an inverted nipple and skin dimpling. Underlying cause was breast cancer.
Specialty Gynecology
Symptoms An area of the breast that feel different than the surrounding tissue [1]
Causes Fibrocystic change, fibroadenomas, breast infection, galactoceles, breast cancer [1]
Diagnostic method Examination, medical imaging, tissue biopsy [2]
TreatmentDepends on the underlying cause [1]
FrequencyCommon [2]

A breast mass, also known as a breast lump, is a localized swelling that feels different from the surrounding tissue. [1] Breast pain, nipple discharge, or skin changes may be present. [1] Concerning findings include masses that are hard, do not move easily, are of an irregular shape, or are firmly attached to surrounding tissue. [2]

Contents

Causes include fibrocystic change, fibroadenomas, breast infection, galactoceles, and breast cancer. [1] Breast cancer makes up about 10% of breast masses. [1] Diagnosis is typically by examination, medical imaging, and tissue biopsy. [2] Tissue biopsy is often by fine needle aspiration biopsy. [3] Repeated examination may be required. [2]

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. [1] It may vary from simple pain medication to surgical removal. [1] Some causes may resolve without treatment. [4] Breast masses are relatively common. [2] It is the most common breast complaint with the women's concern generally being that of cancer. [5] [6]

Types

Women seeking evaluation of a breast lump [7]
FindingPercentage
Fibrocystic breast changes 40%
No disease30%
Fibroadenoma 7%
Other benign mammary dysplasias and neoplasms13%
Breast cancer 10%

Cysts and abscesses

A breast cyst is a non-cancerous, fluid-filled sac in the breast. They generally feel smooth or rubbery under the skin and can be quite painful or cause no pain at all. Cysts are caused by the hormones that control the menstrual cycle and are rare in women older than 50. [8]

A sebaceous cyst is a non-cancerous, closed sac or cyst below the skin that is caused by plugged ducts at the site of a hair follicle. Hormone stimulation or injury may cause them to enlarge but if no symptoms are present, medical treatment is not required. [8]

Breast abscesses are non-cancerous pockets of infection within the breast. They can be quite painful and cause the skin over the breast to turn red or feel hot or solid. Abscesses of the breast are most common in women who are breast-feeding. [8]

Growths

Adenomas are non-cancerous abnormal growths of the glandular tissue in the breast. The most common form of these growths, fibroadenomas, occur most frequently in women between the ages of 15 and 30 and in women of African descent. They usually feel round and firm and have smooth borders. Adenomas are not related to breast cancer. [8]

Intraductal papillomas are wart-like growths in the ducts of the breast. These lumps are usually felt just under the nipple and can cause a bloody discharge from the nipple. Women close to menopause may have only one growth, while younger women are more likely to have multiple growths in one or both breasts. [8]

Breast cancer usually feels like a hard or firm lump that is generally irregular in shape and may feel like it is attached to skin or tissue deep inside the breast. Breast cancer is rarely painful and can occur anywhere in the breast or nipple. [8]

Fatty lumps

Fat necrosis is a condition in which the normal fat cells of the breast become round lumps. Symptoms can include pain, firmness, redness, and/or bruising. Fat necrosis usually goes away without treatment but can form permanent scar tissue that may show up as an abnormality on a mammogram. [8]

A lipoma is a non-cancerous lump of fatty tissue that is soft to the touch, usually movable, and is generally painless. [8]

Other

Breast hematomas and seromas may be visible as a local swelling of the breast. Seromas are a common complication of breast surgery. Hematomas can also occur after breast surgery or breast injury or, more rarely, they can occur spontaneously in patients with coagulopathy.

Diagnosis

A fine needle biopsy Needle biopsy.jpg
A fine needle biopsy

Breast lumps are often discovered during a breast self-examination or during a routine check-up. Upon noticing an unusual lump in the breast the best course of action is to schedule an examination with a physician who can best diagnose the type of breast lump and strategy for treatment.

People should make sure that the medical records of any breast-related illnesses are retained,[ citation needed ] as this facilitates diagnosis in case of recurrence or follow-up.

Treatment

Treatments for breast lumps vary depending on the type of lump. Standard breast cysts and abscesses require drainage for treatment, while sebaceous cysts and fatty lumps are best treated by surgical removal. [8]

Fibroadenoma treatment

Several treatment options currently exist for fibroadenomas: "wait and watch," open surgery and minimally-invasive surgical alternatives.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bone tumor</span> Medical condition

A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in bone, traditionally classified as noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Cancerous bone tumors usually originate from a cancer in another part of the body such as from lung, breast, thyroid, kidney and prostate. There may be a lump, pain, or neurological signs from pressure. A bone tumor might present with a pathologic fracture. Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia and nausea. Sometimes there are no symptoms and the tumour is found when investigating another problem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paget's disease of the breast</span> Medical condition

Paget's disease of the breast is a rare skin change at the nipple nearly always associated with underlying breast cancer. Paget's disease of the breast was first described by Sir James Paget in 1874. The condition is an uncommon disease accounting for 1 to 4% of all breast cancers cases. 92% to 100% of patients with Paget's disease of the breast have an underlying breast cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipple discharge</span> Medical condition

Nipple discharge is fluid from the nipple, with or without squeezing the breast. The discharge can be milky, clear, green, purulent, bloody, or faintly yellow. The consistency can be thick, thin, sticky, or watery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumpectomy</span> Limited surgical removal of breast tissue

Lumpectomy is a surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumor or breast cancer. It is considered a viable breast conservation therapy, as the amount of tissue removed is limited compared to a full-breast mastectomy, and thus may have physical and emotional advantages over more disfiguring treatment. Sometimes a lumpectomy may be used to either confirm or rule out that cancer has actually been detected. A lumpectomy is usually recommended to patients whose cancer has been detected early and who do not have enlarged tumors. Although a lumpectomy is used to allow for most of the breast to remain intact, the procedure may result in adverse affects that can include sensitivity and result in scar tissue, pain, and possible disfiguration of the breast if the lump taken out is significant. According to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, lumpectomy may be performed for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma, or other conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibroadenoma</span> Medical condition

Fibroadenomas are benign breast tumours characterized by an admixture of stromal and epithelial tissue. Breasts are made of lobules and ducts. These are surrounded by glandular, fibrous and fatty tissues. Fibroadenomas develop from the lobules. The glandular tissue and ducts grow over the lobule to form a solid lump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fine-needle aspiration</span> Diagnostic medical procedure

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a diagnostic procedure used to investigate lumps or masses. In this technique, a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the mass for sampling of cells that, after being stained, are examined under a microscope (biopsy). The sampling and biopsy considered together are called fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Fine-needle aspiration biopsies are very safe minor surgical procedures. Often, a major surgical biopsy can be avoided by performing a needle aspiration biopsy instead, eliminating the need for hospitalization. In 1981, the first fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the United States was done at Maimonides Medical Center. Today, this procedure is widely used in the diagnosis of cancer and inflammatory conditions. Fine needle aspiration is generally considered a safe procedure. Complications are infrequent.

Breast pain is the symptom of discomfort in either one or both breasts. Pain in both breasts is often described as breast tenderness, is usually associated with the menstrual period and is not serious. Pain that involves only one part of a breast is more concerning, particularly if a hard mass or nipple discharge is also present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seroma</span> Pocket of fluid that sometimes develops after surgery

A seroma is a pocket of clear serous fluid. They may sometimes develop in the body after surgery, particularly after breast surgery, abdominal surgery, and reconstructive surgery. They can be diagnosed by physical signs, and with a CT scan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryoablation</span> Process using extreme cold to destroy tissue

Cryoablation is a process that uses extreme cold to destroy tissue. Cryoablation is performed using hollow needles (cryoprobes) through which cooled, thermally conductive, fluids are circulated. Cryoprobes are positioned adjacent to the target in such a way that the freezing process will destroy the diseased tissue. Once the probes are in place, the attached cryogenic freezing unit removes heat from ("cools") the tip of the probe and by extension from the surrounding tissues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ductal carcinoma in situ</span> Medical condition

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as intraductal carcinoma, is a pre-cancerous or non-invasive cancerous lesion of the breast. DCIS is classified as Stage 0. It rarely produces symptoms or a breast lump one can feel, typically being detected through screening mammography. It has been diagnosed in a significant percentage of men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibrocystic breast changes</span> Medical condition

Fibrocystic breast changes is a condition of the breasts where there may be pain, breast cysts, and breast masses. The breasts may be described as "lumpy" or "doughy". Symptoms may worsen during certain parts of the menstrual cycle due to hormonal stimulation. These are normal breast changes, not associated with cancer.

Breast diseases make up a number of conditions. The most common symptoms are a breast mass, breast pain, and nipple discharge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breast cyst</span> Medical condition

A breast cyst is a cyst, a fluid-filled sac, within the breast. One breast can have one or more cysts. They are often described as round or oval lumps with distinct edges. In texture, a breast cyst usually feels like a soft grape or a water-filled balloon, but sometimes a breast cyst feels firm.

Cancer in cats is the leading cause of death among cats. It is caused by uncontrolled cell growth, and affects a wide range of cell types and organs in the body. Feline cancer initially manifests as a lump or bump on any parts of the body. It rapidly grows in the affected cell, attaches itself to the tissue under the skin in that area, and, depending on the tumour, it can spread to other parts of the body. Although cancer accounts for approximately 32% of deaths in cats over ten years old, it can be successfully treated if diagnosed early.

Breast surgery is a form of surgery performed on the breast.

Ovarian diseases refer to diseases or disorders of the ovary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breast biopsy</span> Surgical procedure

A breast biopsy is usually done after a suspicious lesion is discovered on either mammography or ultrasound to get tissue for pathological diagnosis. Several methods for a breast biopsy now exist. The most appropriate method of biopsy for a patient depends upon a variety of factors, including the size, location, appearance and characteristics of the abnormality. The different types of breast biopsies include fine-needle aspiration (FNA), vacuum-assisted biopsy, core needle biopsy, and surgical excision biopsy. Breast biopsies can be done utilizing ultrasound, MRI or a stereotactic biopsy imaging guidance. Vacuum assisted biopsies are typically done using stereotactic techniques when the suspicious lesion can only be seen on mammography. On average, 5–10 biopsies of a suspicious breast lesion will lead to the diagnosis of one case of breast cancer. Needle biopsies have largely replaced open surgical biopsies in the initial assessment of imaging as well as palpable abnormalities in the breast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gynecomastia</span> Endocrine system disorder of human male breast

Gynecomastia is the abnormal non-cancerous enlargement of one or both breasts in males due to the growth of breast tissue as a result of a hormone imbalance between estrogens and androgens. Gynecomastia can cause significant psychological distress or unease.

Breast hematoma is a collection of blood within the breast. It arises from internal bleeding (hemorrhage) and may arise due to trauma or due to a non-traumatic cause.

Pediatric gynaecology or pediatric gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the vagina, vulva, uterus, and ovaries of infants, children, and adolescents. Its counterpart is pediatric andrology, which deals with medical issues specific to the penis and testes.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Klein, S (1 May 2005). "Evaluation of palpable breast masses". American Family Physician. 71 (9): 1731–8. PMID   15887452.
  3. Yu, YH; Wei, W; Liu, JL (25 January 2012). "Diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for breast mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis". BMC Cancer. 12: 41. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-41 . PMC   3283452 . PMID   22277164.
  4. "Breast lumps". NHS. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  5. Hindle, William H. (2012). Breast Care: A Clinical Guidebook for Women's Primary Health Care Providers. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 12. ISBN   9781461221449.
  6. Salzman, B; Fleegle, S; Tully, AS (15 August 2012). "Common breast problems". American Family Physician. 86 (4): 343–9. PMID   22963023.
  7. Mitchell, Richard Sheppard; Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson (2007). Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. p. 739. ISBN   978-1-4160-2973-1.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WebMD: Breast Lump Overview