Breast Surgical Anatomy, Assessment, and Management Lecture Notes

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the surgical anatomy, clinical signs, radiological classifications, genetic factors, and management of breast pathologies as detailed in the lecture notes.

Suspensory ligaments of Cooper

Ligaments connecting the pectoralis fascia to the skin that maintain the shape of the breast; their involvement in malignancy causes dimpling.

Peau d'orange (PDO)

An orange peel appearance of the breast skin due to the involvement of sub-dermal or superficial lymphatics in cancer.

Terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU)

The functional unit of the breast where most cancers arise and the source of stroma that gives rise to fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumors.

Triple Assessment

The diagnostic protocol for a breast lump consisting of clinical examination, radiological investigation, and histopathological investigation.

BIRADS

Stands for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data Systems, a categorization tool for mammography findings and management likelihood of cancer.

Core needle biopsy

The investigation of choice (IOC) for breast lumps, typically using a $14G$ needle to differentiate between in-situ and invasive cancers.

BRCA 1

The most common gene mutated in familial breast cancer, located on chromosome $17q$, and associated with the medullary histology subtype.

Luminal A

The most common molecular subtype of breast cancer (ER+, PR+, HER2-, low Ki-67) associated with the best prognosis.

Sentinel lymph node

The first draining lymph node from any cancer, most commonly present in Level I of the axilla.

Winging of scapula

A surgical complication caused by injury to the long thoracic nerve (Nerve of Bell) during mastectomy or axillary clearance.

Seroma formation

The most common complication after mastectomy, involving fluid accumulation beneath the skin flap.

Tamoxifen

A Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) used as hormonal therapy for pre-menopausal patients with ER/PR positive tumors.

Fibroadenoma

The most common benign breast condition in women aged $15-25$, characterized as a firm, painless, and mobile 'breast mouse'.

Mondor's disease

Thrombophlebitis of the chest veins, most commonly the lateral thoracic vein, presenting as non-cyclical mastalgia.

Paget's disease of the breast

A condition characterized by nipple destruction and large cells with clear cytoplasm (Paget cells), usually associated with an underlying DCIS or invasive cancer.