Summary
Definition
History and exam
Other diagnostic factors
- nipple discharge
- breast lump
- eczema-like rash on breast
- ulceration
Risk factors
- family history of breast cancer
- benign breast disease on prior biopsy
- hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Cowden syndrome
- hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- Klinefelter syndrome
- older age at menopause
- older age at first full-term pregnancy
- nulliparity
- low physical activity
- high vitamin A intake
- ataxia telangiectasia
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- biopsy (fine-needle or core)
- stereotactic biopsy
- sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB)
- ultrasound-guided biopsy
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- ultrasonography
- hormone receptor testing
- genetic testing
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors

Medical Officer
Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Working Group
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda
MD
Disclosures
ERS is an author of a reference cited in this topic.
Dr Edward R. Sauter would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Rachel L. Ruhlen, a previous contributor to this topic.
Disclosures
RLR declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Radiologist
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
Nijmegen
The Netherlands
Disclosures
CB is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Assistant in the Division of Medical Oncology
European Institute of Oncology
Milan
Italy
Disclosures
AB declares that she has no competing interests.
Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Medical Oncology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore
MD
Disclosures
KV is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Consultant Surgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer
Edinburgh Breast Unit
Western General Hospital
Edinburgh
UK
Disclosures
GTN is a principal investigator for the IBIS-II trial, and is an author of a guideline cited in this topic.
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