NR 509 Final Exam Test Questions and Answers
Why is the lymphatic drainage of the breast important?
Answer: The lymphatic drainage of the breast is important because it spreads carcinoma and 3/4 of it
goes to the AXILLARY NODES
Gynecomastia
Answer: Male breast enlargement. This is when the glandular tissue is greater than 2cm and palpable.
This is a benign condition caused by increased estrogen, decreased testosterone, and some medication
side effects. This does not increase chances of male breast CA
Are all lumps malignant?
Answer: No- lumps can be cysts and fibro adenomas
When are fibro adenomas common?
Answer: Ages 15-25 years during puberty up until age 55
What is the shape of fibro adenomas?
Answer: Round, disc-like, or lobular, small 1-2cm
What is the consistency of fibro adenomas?
Answer: soft, usually firm
When are cysts common?
Answer: Common ages 30-50 years old. Less common after menopause
What is the shape of cysts?
Answer: Round
Are fibro adenomas mobile?
Answer: Very mobile
Are fibro adenomas tender?
Answer: Non tender
What is the consistency of cysts?
Answer: soft, firm, usually elastic
Are cysts mobile?
Answer: Mobile
Are cysts tender?
Answer: Often tender
Breast CA mass common age?
Answer: 50 to 90 years old
, Breast CA mass shape?
Answer: irregular
Breast CA mass consistency?
Answer: Firm or hand and fixed to the surrounding tissues
Breast CA mass tender?
Answer: Non tender
Breast CA retraction signs?
Answer: Yes- fibrosis is formed causing dimpling, contour changes, and retraction of the deviation of the
nipple
Medications associated with breast pain?
Answer: hormone replacement therapy, psychotropic drugs including SSRIs, haloperidol, spironolactone,
and digoxin
Redness of the breast suggests what?
Answer: local infection or inflammatory carcinoma
Peau d'orange
Answer: Thickening and prominent pores that suggest breast CA
Does asymmetry due to changes in nipple direction suggest underlying CA?
Answer: Yes asymmetry due to changes in the nipple direction due suggest underlying CA
Paget disease of the breast
Answer: Eczematous changes including rash, scaling, and ulceration extending to the areola indicates
underlying ductal or lobular CA
What are the signs of underlying breast CA?
Answer: A nipple that is retracted inward, depressed, flat, broad, or thickened
What position should the patient be in to examine breast symmetry and contour
Answer: Arms over head, hands pressed against hips, and leaning forward
What can be mistaken for a hard breast mass?
Answer: A normal rib
What area is often mistaken for the axilla area?
Answer: Tail of spence
Mammary duct ectasia signs/symptoms and causes
Answer: S/Sx: Tender subareolar cords
Caused by: dilated ducts with surrounding inflammation can be associated with masses
What characteristics of nodules strongly suggest breast CA?
Answer: Poorly circumscribed and fixed to underlying tissues
Why is the lymphatic drainage of the breast important?
Answer: The lymphatic drainage of the breast is important because it spreads carcinoma and 3/4 of it
goes to the AXILLARY NODES
Gynecomastia
Answer: Male breast enlargement. This is when the glandular tissue is greater than 2cm and palpable.
This is a benign condition caused by increased estrogen, decreased testosterone, and some medication
side effects. This does not increase chances of male breast CA
Are all lumps malignant?
Answer: No- lumps can be cysts and fibro adenomas
When are fibro adenomas common?
Answer: Ages 15-25 years during puberty up until age 55
What is the shape of fibro adenomas?
Answer: Round, disc-like, or lobular, small 1-2cm
What is the consistency of fibro adenomas?
Answer: soft, usually firm
When are cysts common?
Answer: Common ages 30-50 years old. Less common after menopause
What is the shape of cysts?
Answer: Round
Are fibro adenomas mobile?
Answer: Very mobile
Are fibro adenomas tender?
Answer: Non tender
What is the consistency of cysts?
Answer: soft, firm, usually elastic
Are cysts mobile?
Answer: Mobile
Are cysts tender?
Answer: Often tender
Breast CA mass common age?
Answer: 50 to 90 years old
, Breast CA mass shape?
Answer: irregular
Breast CA mass consistency?
Answer: Firm or hand and fixed to the surrounding tissues
Breast CA mass tender?
Answer: Non tender
Breast CA retraction signs?
Answer: Yes- fibrosis is formed causing dimpling, contour changes, and retraction of the deviation of the
nipple
Medications associated with breast pain?
Answer: hormone replacement therapy, psychotropic drugs including SSRIs, haloperidol, spironolactone,
and digoxin
Redness of the breast suggests what?
Answer: local infection or inflammatory carcinoma
Peau d'orange
Answer: Thickening and prominent pores that suggest breast CA
Does asymmetry due to changes in nipple direction suggest underlying CA?
Answer: Yes asymmetry due to changes in the nipple direction due suggest underlying CA
Paget disease of the breast
Answer: Eczematous changes including rash, scaling, and ulceration extending to the areola indicates
underlying ductal or lobular CA
What are the signs of underlying breast CA?
Answer: A nipple that is retracted inward, depressed, flat, broad, or thickened
What position should the patient be in to examine breast symmetry and contour
Answer: Arms over head, hands pressed against hips, and leaning forward
What can be mistaken for a hard breast mass?
Answer: A normal rib
What area is often mistaken for the axilla area?
Answer: Tail of spence
Mammary duct ectasia signs/symptoms and causes
Answer: S/Sx: Tender subareolar cords
Caused by: dilated ducts with surrounding inflammation can be associated with masses
What characteristics of nodules strongly suggest breast CA?
Answer: Poorly circumscribed and fixed to underlying tissues
