Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- breast mass
- nipple discharge
- axillary lymphadenopathy
Other diagnostic factors
- skin thickening or discoloration
- retraction or scaling of the nipple
Risk factors
- increasing age
- female sex
- ethnic origin
- positive family history
- genetic mutations
- endogenous estrogen exposure
- exogenous estrogen/progestin exposure
- reduced physical activity
- poor diet
- alcohol consumption
- radiation exposure
- high socioeconomic class
- smoking
- benign breast disease
- increased breast density
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- breast ultrasound
- breast MRI
- biopsy
- hormone receptor testing
- HER2 receptor testing
- gene expression assays
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Assistant Professor
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York
NY
Disclosures
KC declares that she has no competing interests.
Professor
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute
New York
NY
Disclosures
AT has participated in speakers' bureau for Pfizer, Celgene, and Amgen.
Dr Krystal Cascetta and Professor Amy Tiersten would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Hope S. Rugo, Dr Amal Melhem-Bertrandt, Dr Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, and Dr Phuong Khanh H. Morrow, the previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
AMB, GNH, and PKHM declare that they have no competing interests. HSR receives research funding through the University of California from Novartis, Pfizer, Genentech, Macrogenics, Plexxikon, Merck, Nektar, and GSK. She has been reimbursed for travel by Novartis, Genentech, and Nektar. She has received speaker honorarium from Genomic Health.
Peer reviewers
Assistant Professor
University of Louisville
Louisville
KY
Disclosures
AC declares that she has no competing interests.
General Surgeon
General Surgery Department
Istanbul Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul
Turkey
Disclosures
GC is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Medical Officer
Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Working Group
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda
MD
Disclosures
ERS declares that he has no competing interests.
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