Skip to content

Breast tumour in females

Discussion

A 34-year-old woman presents to the clinic with concerns about a persistent lump in her left breast that she discovered during a self-examination six weeks ago. The lump is firm, mobile, and approximately 1.5 cm in size. She has not experienced any pain, nipple discharge, or changes in breast skin appearance. Her menstrual cycles are regular, and she reports no significant hormonal changes or other symptoms.

Her medical history is unremarkable, and she has no family history of breast cancer. On physical examination, a well-defined, mobile mass is palpated in the upper inner quadrant of the left breast. The right breast appears normal, and no axillary lymphadenopathy is noted.

A mammogram and ultrasound are performed, confirming the presence of a solid mass. A core needle biopsy is conducted, and the results reveal a benign phyllodes tumor. Given the benign nature of the tumor and its size, the patient is advised to undergo a wide local excision to ensure complete removal. The procedure is scheduled, and she is provided with information on monitoring her breast health in the future. A follow-up appointment is arranged for after the surgery to discuss the results and further management.

Questions
1. What prompted the patient to seek medical attention?

a). Nipple discharge

b). Persistent lump in the left breast

c). Breast pain

d). Skin changes on the breast

2. What was the size of the lump found during the examination?

a). 0.5 cm

b). 1.0 cm

c). 1.5 cm

d). 2.0 cm

3. What was the diagnosis confirmed by the biopsy?

a). Invasive ductal carcinoma

b). Ductal carcinoma in situ

c). Benign phyllodes tumor

d). Fibroadenoma

4. What surgical intervention was recommended for the patient?

a). Total mastectomy

b). Wide local excision

c). Lumpectomy

d). Sentinel lymph node biopsy

Reveal answers

Answers

  1. b). Persistent lump in the left breast
  2. c). 1.5 cm
  3. c). Benign phyllodes tumor
  4. b). Wide local excision