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Breast diseases
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The mammary gland is a glandular organ that produces milk in women after childbirth (lactation) to feed the child. In men, they normally remain underdeveloped and do not function. The breast has a rich innervation and blood supply. Functionally, it is connected with the hormonal system that regulates its function, and the vegetative part of the nervous system, therefore it is an erogenous zone.
[ Symptoms breast diseases
Typical complaints indicating the presence of a breast disease are: pain, increased volume, presence of lumps, discharge from the nipple, skin changes. From the anamnesis, it is necessary to find out the time of occurrence, duration, periodicity, connection with lactation, menstruation, pathology of other organs, especially endocrine glands.
Diagnostics breast diseases
The examination is performed standing with hands placed on the head, then lying down. Attention is paid to their symmetry, size, shape, and the presence of deformations. The skin, color, presence of retractions, ulcerations, edema, increased venous pattern, condition of the areolas (contours, edema) and nipples (flattening or retraction) are carefully examined.
Palpation is performed first in a standing position, then lying down. First, one breast is palpated, then the other, comparing symmetrical areas. Palpation begins with superficial, circular movements from the nipple to the periphery, identifying superficial seals or tumors, painful areas. When a seal is detected, its size, shape, consistency, mobility, connection with the skin and surrounding tissues, and pain upon palpation are determined.
The Koenig symptom is established (when palpating with the palm, the cancerous node is determined equally clearly in a standing and lying position; with dyshormonal seals in a flattened breast, they are palpated less clearly or disappear altogether); the Krause symptom (by grasping the skin of the areola in a fold, the presence of thickening on the affected side is determined). By lightly squeezing and bringing the skin over the node closer together, symptoms of breast disease are revealed: skin wrinkling, umbilication (retraction), platform (flattening), limited mobility, orange peel - symptoms of breast disease characteristic of cancer. When palpating the nipples, a seal, complete or partial retraction, and discharge from it are revealed.
After the examination, palpation of the lymph nodes is mandatory: axillary and subclavian (the patient places her hands on the doctor's shoulders), supraclavicular (the doctor is positioned behind the large one, she tilts her head towards the palpation zone).
In all cases of detection of a disease of the mammary gland, mastopathy, detection or suspicion of a tumor, the patient should be consulted by a gynecologist, endocrinologist and referred to a mammologist who conducts additional research, ultrasound, mammography, ductography, biopsy, etc. If tuberculosis or syphilis of the mammary gland is detected, the patient is referred to the appropriate institutions. Surgeons deal only with issues of treating mastitis and actinomycosis.
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