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Breast lump



Breast lump: Contents

Breast lump: Introduction

A lump in the breast immediately brings fear of breast cancer, although most breast lumps are benign breast cysts. However, the failure to identify a breast lump as breast cancer is a common misdiagnosis (and a common allegation in malpractice law), and the survival rate after delayed detection is much lower, so the importance of correctly diagnosing a breast lump quickly cannot be understated. There are also other causes of lumps in the breast or related region. Breast-feeding women are prone to benign breast lumps from mastitis. Men can get benign enlargement of breast tissue called gynecomastia. Rarely, men can also get breast cancer. Any breast lump needs immediate professional medical advice to get a correct diagnosis and to detect cases of breast cancer.

» Review Causes of Breast lump: full list

Causes of Breast lump:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Breast lump. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

See full list of 62 causes of Breast lump

» Review Causes of Breast lump: full list

Causes of Types of Breast lump:

Review causes of types of Breast lump in more specific categories:

See full list of 18 types for Breast lump

Breast lump: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Breast lump, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

See full list of 703 Symptom Checker combinations related to Breast lump

Breast lump: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available related to Breast lump:

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Breast lump

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Breast lump:

Diagnostic Guides for Breast lump

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Breast lump from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Breast lump. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Breast lump

Medical Books Excerpts

BREAST MASS

  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)

Breast Masses

  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms" (2004)

BREAST MASS OR SWELLING

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

EPIGASTRIC MASS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

EXTREMITY MASS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

HYPOGASTRIC MASS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

Nipple retraction

  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)

Breast nodule [Breast lump]

  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)

Mediastinal Masses by Predominant Compartment

  • "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis" (1999)

Nipple retraction

  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)

Breast nodule [Breast lump]

  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)

Breast Mass

  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)

Mediastinal Mass

  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)

Breast Mass/Discharge

  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis" (2007)

Nipple retraction

  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)

Nipple retraction

  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)

Breast nodule [Breast lump]

  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)

BREAST MASS OR SWELLING

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

EXTREMITY MASS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

FACE MASS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

PULSATILE MASS

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

Epigastric Mass

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

Hypogastric Mass

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)

Know how to appropriately work up a breast mass in adolescent females

  • "Avoiding Common Pediatric Errors" (2008)

Mediastinal Mass

  • "The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult" (2008)

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Breast lump: Medical Mistakes

Breast lump: Undiagnosed Conditions

Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:

Hospitals & Clinics: Breast lump

Research extensive quality ratings and patient safety measures for hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in health specialties related to Breast lump:

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Breast lump: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

Misdiagnosis and Breast lump

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Breast lump

Breast lump: Related Rare Diseases

Rare types of medical conditions and diseases in related medical categories:

Diagnostic tests for Breast lump:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Breast lump. Some of these are listed below :

  • Physical examination
    • Examination the breast lump when sitting and lying flat and assess breast lump position, size, shape, consistency, tenderness and mobility and attachment to the overlying skin. e.g. a hard, irregular lump is suspicious of breast cancer; a firm, smooth and mobile breast lump may suggest fibroadenoma
    • Axillary and supraclavicular lymph node examination
    • Examine to see if there is a deformity of the breast associated with the mass e.g. an orange peel appearance of the skin over the tumor, retraction of the skin, retraction of the nipple or ulceration of the skin overlying the mass suggests breast cancer
    • Examine lump to see if it transilluminates - may suggest a cyst of the breast or a galactocoele. If it does not transilluminate it is probably a benign or malignant tumor.
  • more tests...»

See full list of 12 diagnostic tests for Breast lump

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Breast lump. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • When did you first notice the breast lump? - to establish if acute or chronic.
  • Is it single or multiple, in one or two breasts? - suggests benign mammary dysplasia or benign breast cysts.
  • Does breast tenderness and swelling increase before the menstrual period and settle after the menstrual period? - suggests benign mammary dysplasia.
  • Have you noticed "lumpiness" in your breasts in the past? - suggests benign mammary dysplasia.
  • Has the lumpy area been red or hot? - may suggest acute mastitis (most common) or inflammatory breast cancer.
  • more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Breast lump (18 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Breast lump) may include:

  • Breast lump pain - a painful breast lump is most likely due to an infection (e.g. mastitis or abscess). Other possibilities are benign mammary dysplasia or advanced breast cancer. Note only 5% of breast cancers are associated with pain. The ache may extend down inner aspect of the upper arm in benign mammary dysplasia.
  • Nipple discharge? - A bloody discharge from the breast suggests a benign breast cancer (intraduct papilloma), malignant breast cancer or sometimes benign mammary dysplasia. A pus-like discharge may suggest an abscess or mastitis. A watery discharge of various colors (clear to green-grey) suggests benign mammary dysplasia.
  • Fever? - would suggest acute mastitis or abscess.
  • Has there been any change in your nipples? - e.g. nipple retraction suggests breast cancer. Nipple itching, burning or ulceration may suggest Paget's disease.
  • Symptoms suggestive of metastatic disease e.g. back pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, and headache
  • more symptoms...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Breast lump (18 listings)

Home Diagnostic Testing and Breast lump

Home medical tests possibly related to Breast lump:

Stories from Users for Breast lump

Real-life user stories relating to Breast lump:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Breast lump or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Breast lump

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See full list of 30 related videos

Patient Surveys for Breast lump

Causes of Breast lump listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Breast lump as a symptom include:

See full list of 62 causes of Breast lump
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Breast lump:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Breast lump as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

See full list of 11 medications causing Breast lump

Definitions of Breast lump:

A mass in the mammary gland, either mobile or immobile. Once the mass has reached the size of a small garden pea, it can be detected by palpation. With mammography a larger number of early breast cancers are being detected since this techniques allows detection prior to the point at which the mass can be felt. Breast masses are not always malignant. Benign fibrocystic breast disease is not uncommon. A fine needle biopsy aspiration can distinguish a cystic mass from a solid one.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Organs affected by Breast lump:

The list of organs typically affected by Breast lump may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Breast lump

The list below shows some of the causes of Breast lump mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 62 causes of Breast lump

How Common are these Causes of Breast lump?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Breast lump. Of the 62 causes of Breast lump that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 1 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 3 causes are "common" diseases
  • 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 0 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 0 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 60 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 62 causes of Breast lump

Conditions listing symptoms: Breast lump:

The following list of conditions have 'Breast lump' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A

  • Angiosarcoma of the breast ... breast lump

    B

  • Breast Cancer ... breast lump, breast skin pitting, breast thickening, hard painless breast lump
  • Breast lump ... breast lump, various types of breast lump are possible

    C

  • Cancer ... Breast lump
  • Cystosarcoma phyllodes ... breast lump

    F

  • Fibroadenoma ... breast lump
  • Fibrocystic breasts ... breast lump, lumpy breasts, lumpy breasts

    G

  • Galactocele ... breast lump
  • Giant mammary hamartoma ... breast lump

    I

  • Inflammatory breast cancer ... breast lump

    M

  • Male Breast Cancer ... breast lump, breast skin pitting, breast thickening, hard painless breast lump
  • Mastitis ... lumps in breast ducts

    N

  • Nipple conditions ... Breast lump

    P

  • Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia ... breast lump

    S

  • Secretory breast carcinoma ... breast lump

    Z

  • Zuskas Disease ... Breast lump, Areolar lump

    Join in at the forums

    Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.

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    • Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Breast lump?

    Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Breast lump, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.

    Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

    What are the alternative names for Breast lump:

    Breast mass
    - (Source - Diseases Database)

    Classifications of Breast lump:

    Medical Conditions associated with Breast lump:

    Breast symptoms (204 causes), Lump (285 causes)

    Symptoms related to Breast lump:

    Nipple symptoms (106 causes), Breast swelling (57 causes), Breast infection, Mastitis, Breast symptoms (204 causes), Breast pain (17 causes), Nipple pain (3 causes), Breast cyst, Breast abscess, Breast cancer (3 causes), Metastatic breast cancer, Chronic cystic mastitis, Fat necrosis, Gynecomastia (2 causes), Papilloma, Breast duct papilloma

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    Medical News summaries about Breast lump

    Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Breast lump and many other medical conditions:

    News Archives for Breast lump

    Medical news articles related to Breast lump include:

    Source: HealthDay News

    Evidence Based Medicine Research for Breast lump

    Medical research papers related to Breast lump include:

    Research More Evidence-Based Medicine at TripDatabase.com

    Related medical articles from our Disease Center for Breast lump:

    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


     » Next page: Causes of Breast lump

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