Physical Examination of the Breast



Physical Examination of the Breast


Monica Morrow



Obtaining a careful history is the initial step in a breast examination. Regardless of the presenting complaint, baseline information regarding menstrual status and breast cancer risk factors should be obtained. The basic elements of a breast history are listed in Table 3-1. In premenopausal women, knowing the date of the last menstrual period and the regularity of the cycle is useful in evaluating breast nodularity, pain, and cysts. Postmenopausal women should be questioned about use of hormone replacement therapy, given that many benign breast problems are uncommon after menopause in the absence of exogenous hormones. Specific information about the patient’s presenting complaint is then elicited. A breast lump is most often the clinical breast problem that causes women to seek treatment, and remains the most common presentation of breast carcinoma. Haagensen (1) observed that 65% of 2,198 breast cancer cases identified before the use of screening mammography presented as breast masses. Breast pain, a change in the size and shape of the breast, nipple discharge, and changes in the appearance of the skin are infrequent symptoms of carcinoma. The evaluation and management of these conditions are described in Chapters 5, 6, and 7. In general, the duration of symptoms, their persistence over time, and their fluctuation with the menstrual cycle should be assessed.


Jul 9, 2016 | Posted by in ONCOLOGY | Comments Off on Physical Examination of the Breast

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