Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- mastalgia
- diffuse symmetric lumpiness through both breasts
Other diagnostic factors
- age 30 to 50 years
- nipple discharge
- palpable breast mass
Risk factors
- late-onset menopause
- later age at first childbirth
- nulliparity
- obesity
- estrogen replacement therapy
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- mammography
- breast ultrasound
Tests to consider
- cyst aspiration
- breast biopsy
Treatment algorithm
mastalgia
nipple discharge
Contributors
Authors
Sonia Sugg, MD
Professor of Surgery
Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City
IA
Disclosures
SS declares that she has no competing interests.
Ingrid Lizarraga, MBBS, FACS
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City
IA
Disclosures
IL declares that she has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Sonia Sugg and Dr Ingrid Lizarraga would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Sophia Fu, Dr Sarah E. Colwick, Dr Hernan I. Vargas, Dr Carol Scott-Connor, Dr Anjali Thawani, and Dr Jesse Dirksen, the previous contributors to this topic. SEC, HIV, CSC, AT and JD declare that they have no competing interests.
Disclosures
SF, SEC, HIV, CSC, AT, and JD declared that they had no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Fred Dirbas, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology
Stanford University
Stanford
CA
Disclosures
FD declares that he has no competing interests.
Justin Stebbing, MA, MRCP, MRCPath, PhD
Consultant Medical Oncologist/Senior Lecturer
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Charing Cross Hospital
London
UK
Disclosures
JS declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Chest wall pain
- Costochondritis
- Fibroadenoma
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Screening for breast cancer: recommendation statement
- ACR appropriateness criteria: palpable breast masses
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Breast cancer: DCIS (very early breast cancer) in women
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