Breast Issues

Breast Pain (Mastalgia)

  • Benign lactation complications

    • Severe engorgement: Encourage regular breast emptying

    • Obstructed milk duct

      • Presents as painful, non-erythematous, palpable lump

      • Recommendations include complete breast emptying q3h while awake

    • Galactocele

      • Milk retention cyst diagnosed with ultrasound, mammogram, or aspiration

      • Aspiration revealing milk is diagnostic and therapeutic

      • Consider referral to breast surgeon for recurrent cases

  • Mastitis

  • Breast abscess

  • Inflammatory breast cancer

Nipple Discharge

  • Pathologic, i.e. spontaneous, unilateral, and/or bloody: Refer to a breast surgeon

  • Non-bloody: Galactorrhea

Breast Mass

  • Fibroadenoma

  • Fibrocystic breast

  • Intraductal papilloma

  • Lobular carcinoma in situ