The principle that women who have been treated for breast cancer should avoid exogenous estrogen has been an area of general agreement and standard practice for many years; it…

HRT gained wide acceptance over 30 years ago and gradually became a staple in the treatment of estrogen deficiency.  Patients were pleased by the relief of menopausal symptoms offered by HRT, and…

Because of treatment with chemotherapy, women with a history of breast cancer are more likely to be exposed to estrogen deficiency and often experience estrogen deficiency for a longer duration than women…

Each year, over 180,000 females in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of women living to the age of 90, one in nine will be treated for breast…

The screening that was discussed in the previous section is actually considered a form of prevention. By definition, secondary prevention refers to any modality that leads to the earlier detection of a breast cancer,…

The ultimate goal of widespread screening for breast cancer is a reduction in mortality from the disease. Toward this end, appropriate screening for breast cancer involves both the physician and the patient. In general,…

Gynecomastia is a common condition and represents a benign proliferation of glandular tissue of the male breast. Gynecomastia occurs in three different age groups - neonatal, pubertal and elderly. Due to transplacental passage of estrogen, transient…

Mondor disease of the breast is rare and is a superficial thrombophlebitis of the lateral thoracic or superior thoraco-epigastric veins.

Clinical Features
Patients usually present with a tender subcutaneous cord along the distribution of…

Granulomatous lesions of the breast are rare. They can be secondary to systemic conditions (sarcoidosis), infections (mycobacterium, fungal), or reactions to foreign material (silicone, narcotics).

Clinical Features
A detailed history may…

Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis may occur in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Clinical Features
Patients classically present with a firm to hard, irregular, palpable, breast mass that can be difficult to…

Fibromatosis of the breast is similar to fibromatosis elsewhere in the body (e.g., desmoid tumors).

Clinical Features
Patients can present with a palpable mass that mimics carcinoma and is sometimes associated with…

Proliferation of epithelial cells lining the terminal duct-lobular unit is known as epithelial hyperplasia. The degree of hyperplasia can be graded as mild, moderate or florid. There may be associated atypical features. The significance of…

Sclerosing adenosis is associated with distortion of the terminal duct-lobular unit and should be regarded as an aberration of breast involution.

Clinical Features
Patients may present with either a breast lump or breast pain,…

Radial scars are often detected in screening mammography (0.9 per 1,000 women screened) or as incidental findings in excision breast biopsy for another pathology. Their importance lies in that they may mimic carcinoma.

Radiology
…

Fat necrosis of the breast may be associated with a history of trauma (35-40%) and is an important clinical entity because it can mimic breast carcinoma. Surgical trauma secondary to biopsy or…

Breast hematoma can occur secondary to surgical intervention, including FNAB, core biopsy and excision biopsy. The most common cause of postoperative hematoma is inadequate hemostasis. Breast hematoma also occurs after minor trauma to the breast…

Periareolar infection occurring in patients with periductal mastitis has already been described. This infection is usually central and subareolar.

Peripheral breast abscesses can occur in patients with other systemic conditions such as diabetes, steroid…

Lactating Breast Infection
Nursing mothers can develop cellulitis or abscess formation secondary to infection with staphylococcus aureus. The portal of entry is usually an irritated or cracked nipple. It is not known whether poor…

Duct papillomas can be solitary or multiple. These lesions can present in isolation but are often noted in association with other benign breast pathology.

Although papillary lesions are histologically similar, there are different subtypes in…

Multiple papillomas tend to occur in peripheral ducts and present with a palpable mass associated in rare cases with nipple discharge. The diagnosis is usually made on core or excision biopsy. Inadequate excision results…

Periductal mastitis refers to the inflammatory process occurring around dilated ducts. The etiology and pathogenesis of periductal mastitis is debatable. One theory suggests that the process consists of initial duct dilatation followed by distention. This…