ABSITE – BREAST QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Which of the following is correct in relation to BRCA1/2 mutations and breast cancer? -
CORRECT ANSWER -
The lifetime risk (by age 70) of developing breast cancer for BRCA1 mutation carriers can be as high as
80%.
(Correct. BRCA mutations carry a 50% to 80% lifetime risk of female breast cancer, a 6% lifetime risk o
f male breast cancer (BRCA2), and a 15% to 25% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer. BRCA1 mutation carrie
rs are more likely to present with breast cancer at a lower age than BRCA2 mutation carriers (peak inc
idence at 45-49 years and 65-
69 years, respectively). It is important to understand these statistics when considering either genetic t
esting or prevention strategies in a known BRCA mutation carrier.)
Which of the following treatments has been shown to provide relief of symptoms in more than 50% of
patients with cyclical breast pain? - CORRECT ANSWER -Evening primrose oil
The most common histologic type of invasive breast cancer is which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Ductal adenocarcinoma.
Hormone regulation of mammary epithelial development includes: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Initiation of ductal development by estrogen.
Which benign breast disease is associated with an increased risk of malignancy? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Atypical ductal hyperplasia
Which of the following statements regarding steroid hormones and breast cancer is correct?
- The kidney is the principle site of steroid metabolism.
- The rate-
limiting step of steroid hormone biosynthesis involves the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone
.
-
In postmenopausal women, androgens are produced in the adrenal gland, and adipose tissue is the p
rincipal site for aromatization.
- Circulating steroid hormones are primarily lipid-bound and are thus considered "bioavailable." -
CORRECT ANSWER -
, In postmenopausal women, androgens are produced in the adrenal gland, and adipose tissue is the pri
ncipal site for aromatization.
(In postmenopausal women, androgens are produced in the adrenal gland, and adipose tissue is the p
rincipal site for aromatization. Normal adipose tissue uses promoter I.4 of the CYP19 gene to stimulate
aromatase production; however, breast tumors and their surrounding adipose tissue activate promoto
r II of the CYP19 gene, and the result is a greater expression of aromatase. AIs can reduce estrogen pr
oduction by more than 90% and are classified according to the specificity, potency, and reversibility wi
th which they inhibit the aromatase enzyme.)
Which of the following histologic breast changes is most associated with an increased risk of breast ca
ncer?
- Epithelial hyperplasia with atypia.
- Macro- and microcysts.
- Apocrine metaplasia.
- Fibroadenoma.
- Duct ectasia. - CORRECT ANSWER -Epithelial hyperplasia with atypia.
Pagetz diseasez ofzthez breastz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Pagetz diseasez isz nearlyz alwaysz detectablez onzclinicalz examinationz asz az crustingzerosionzofzthez nipple.z It
mayz bez lessz subtlez presentingz withz thickeningz rednessz orzroughnesszofzthez nipple,z oſtenz associatedz wit
hz itchingz andz burning.z Itz isz oſtenz associatedzwithz subareolarz intraductalz cancer.z Survivalz isz dependentz
u
ponz thez stagez ofzthez accompanyingz breastz cancer.
Az 42-year-old,z otherwisez healthyz womanz hasz az new,z 1-
cmz inz diameterz densityz deepz inz thez centralzretroareolarz regionzofzherz rightz breastz onzmammography.z
S
hez hasz noz palpablez abnormalityz onzphysicalz examination.z Noz lesionz isz detectedzonzultrasonography.z Th
ez bestz diagnosticzoptionzisz-z CORRECTz ANSWERz -stereotacticz corez needlez biopsyz ofzthez breast
Az 32-
yearzoldzmalez presentsz toz clinicz duez toz enlargingz leſtz breast.z Hez statesz thatz hez hasz noticedzthisz "swelli
n
g"z forz thezpastz yearz butz hasz onlyz soughtz medicalz carez nowz becausez itz hasz becomingz noticeablyz largerz
t
hanz hisz rightz breast.z Hez deniesz painz orznipplez discharge.z Hez deniesz familyz historyz ofz breastz cancerz inz
ei
therz womenz orzmenz inz hiszimmediatez orzdistantz familyz andz steroidz use.z Onz examination,z thez patientz is
veryz muscularzwithz az smoothz rightz breast,z devoidzofzmasses.z Hisz leſtz breastz isz notedz toz havez rubbery
massz extendingz concentricallyz fromz thez nipple.z Hisz testicularz examz isz normal.z Whatz isz thez appropriate
managementzofzthisz patient?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -Mammogramz andz ultrasound
CORRECT ANSWERS
Which of the following is correct in relation to BRCA1/2 mutations and breast cancer? -
CORRECT ANSWER -
The lifetime risk (by age 70) of developing breast cancer for BRCA1 mutation carriers can be as high as
80%.
(Correct. BRCA mutations carry a 50% to 80% lifetime risk of female breast cancer, a 6% lifetime risk o
f male breast cancer (BRCA2), and a 15% to 25% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer. BRCA1 mutation carrie
rs are more likely to present with breast cancer at a lower age than BRCA2 mutation carriers (peak inc
idence at 45-49 years and 65-
69 years, respectively). It is important to understand these statistics when considering either genetic t
esting or prevention strategies in a known BRCA mutation carrier.)
Which of the following treatments has been shown to provide relief of symptoms in more than 50% of
patients with cyclical breast pain? - CORRECT ANSWER -Evening primrose oil
The most common histologic type of invasive breast cancer is which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Ductal adenocarcinoma.
Hormone regulation of mammary epithelial development includes: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Initiation of ductal development by estrogen.
Which benign breast disease is associated with an increased risk of malignancy? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Atypical ductal hyperplasia
Which of the following statements regarding steroid hormones and breast cancer is correct?
- The kidney is the principle site of steroid metabolism.
- The rate-
limiting step of steroid hormone biosynthesis involves the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone
.
-
In postmenopausal women, androgens are produced in the adrenal gland, and adipose tissue is the p
rincipal site for aromatization.
- Circulating steroid hormones are primarily lipid-bound and are thus considered "bioavailable." -
CORRECT ANSWER -
, In postmenopausal women, androgens are produced in the adrenal gland, and adipose tissue is the pri
ncipal site for aromatization.
(In postmenopausal women, androgens are produced in the adrenal gland, and adipose tissue is the p
rincipal site for aromatization. Normal adipose tissue uses promoter I.4 of the CYP19 gene to stimulate
aromatase production; however, breast tumors and their surrounding adipose tissue activate promoto
r II of the CYP19 gene, and the result is a greater expression of aromatase. AIs can reduce estrogen pr
oduction by more than 90% and are classified according to the specificity, potency, and reversibility wi
th which they inhibit the aromatase enzyme.)
Which of the following histologic breast changes is most associated with an increased risk of breast ca
ncer?
- Epithelial hyperplasia with atypia.
- Macro- and microcysts.
- Apocrine metaplasia.
- Fibroadenoma.
- Duct ectasia. - CORRECT ANSWER -Epithelial hyperplasia with atypia.
Pagetz diseasez ofzthez breastz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
Pagetz diseasez isz nearlyz alwaysz detectablez onzclinicalz examinationz asz az crustingzerosionzofzthez nipple.z It
mayz bez lessz subtlez presentingz withz thickeningz rednessz orzroughnesszofzthez nipple,z oſtenz associatedz wit
hz itchingz andz burning.z Itz isz oſtenz associatedzwithz subareolarz intraductalz cancer.z Survivalz isz dependentz
u
ponz thez stagez ofzthez accompanyingz breastz cancer.
Az 42-year-old,z otherwisez healthyz womanz hasz az new,z 1-
cmz inz diameterz densityz deepz inz thez centralzretroareolarz regionzofzherz rightz breastz onzmammography.z
S
hez hasz noz palpablez abnormalityz onzphysicalz examination.z Noz lesionz isz detectedzonzultrasonography.z Th
ez bestz diagnosticzoptionzisz-z CORRECTz ANSWERz -stereotacticz corez needlez biopsyz ofzthez breast
Az 32-
yearzoldzmalez presentsz toz clinicz duez toz enlargingz leſtz breast.z Hez statesz thatz hez hasz noticedzthisz "swelli
n
g"z forz thezpastz yearz butz hasz onlyz soughtz medicalz carez nowz becausez itz hasz becomingz noticeablyz largerz
t
hanz hisz rightz breast.z Hez deniesz painz orznipplez discharge.z Hez deniesz familyz historyz ofz breastz cancerz inz
ei
therz womenz orzmenz inz hiszimmediatez orzdistantz familyz andz steroidz use.z Onz examination,z thez patientz is
veryz muscularzwithz az smoothz rightz breast,z devoidzofzmasses.z Hisz leſtz breastz isz notedz toz havez rubbery
massz extendingz concentricallyz fromz thez nipple.z Hisz testicularz examz isz normal.z Whatz isz thez appropriate
managementzofzthisz patient?z -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -Mammogramz andz ultrasound
