Benign and malignant diseases of the breast Benign and malignant diseases of the breast

Reduction mammoplasty often involves:

1. Reducing the size of individual lobules

2. Reducing the size of the ampule

3. Removal of glandular tissue only

4. Removal of breast tissue and relocation of the nipple

4

Reduction mammoplasty reduces the overall size of the breast. In general, all breast reduction will involve the relocation of the nipple.

A patient with peau d'orange-type breast will present with:

1. Breast skin that is obviously thickened

2. Malignant breast calcifications

3. Radiopaque breast lesions

4. Vascular calcifications

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Peau d'orange describes a thickening of the skin of the entire breast. Skin thickening can be caused by benign conditions or malignant disease.

Benign breast calcifications include all of the following except:

1. Vascular calcifications

2. Plasma cell mastitis

3. Milk of calcium

4. Casting-type calcifications

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Casting-type calcifications are produced when ductal carcinoma in situ fills the ducts. The calcifications are the result of cell necrosis at the center of the growth. Milk of calcium forms in the lobules as a result of calcified debris. Plasma cell mastitis is the result of increased cellular activity, and vascular calcifications are calcified arteries or veins.

Which of the following describes the characteristics of benign circular or oval lesions?	(
(1) Radiolucent
(2) Halo sign
(3) Low optical density
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1,2, and 3

Answer: D. All of the above are general features of a benign circular or oval lesion.

5. Asymmetric breast tissue-seen as an area on one mammogram that is not reproduced on the
other- is referred to as:
(A) Stellate lesion
(B) Spiculated lesion
C) Architectural distortion
(D) Malignant lesion

Answer: C. Architectural distortion represents areas of increased glandularity on one breast that are not mirrored on the other side, The cause can be benign or malignant. Stellate or spiculated lesions often represent maligeancy,

The halo sign is often used to identify:

1. Benign versus malignant lesions

2. Tumors versus fibroadenoma lesions

3. Circular and oval lesions

4. Stellate or spiculated lesions

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The halo often will surround an oval or circular lesion.

These lesions are often benign. However, a circular or oval lesion can hold a cancer within the lesion itself. In any evaluation, the content of the circular or oval lesion must be checked.

Oil cysts are:

1. Often malignant

2. Seen on the mammogram as eggshell-like calcifications

3. Rarely benign

4. Often seen after pregnancy

2

Oil cysts are benign eggshell-like calcifications.

The two most common types of breast cancer ars:

1. Lobular

2. Ductal

3. Metastasis

1. 1 and 2 only

2. 2 and 3 only

3. 1 and 3 only

4. 1,2, and 3

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Ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma are the two most common types of breast cancer. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer beyond the breast.

Which of the following lesions are likely to be malignant?

1. Spiculated

2. Circular

3. Multiple lobulated

1. 1 and 2 only

2. 2 and 3 only

3. 1 and 3 only

4. 1,2, and 3

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Benign lesions are often circular or oval with few lobulations. Cancerous lesions are often spiculated with multiple lobules and high optical density.

A fibroadenoma is a:

1. Malignant lesion found only in older women

2. Fluid-filled duct

3. Fibrous and adenoma tissue

4. Round, movable, but often benign lesion

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Fibroadenomas are formed from stromal and epithelial elements. Although they are most often benign, a cancer can grow within a fibroadenoma.