Chapter 21: The Breast (Matching)

Multicentric Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurring in different quadrants of the breasts at least 5cm apart

Multifocal Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurring in more than site within the same quadrant of the same ductal system of the breast

Cyst aspiration

Common diagnostic and interventional procedure that involves placing a needle through the skin of the breast into a cystic mass and pulling fluid out of the cyst through the needle

Fibrocystic Condition

Condition that represents different, essentially normal, tissue processes within the breast that in some patients become exaggerated to the point of raising concern for breast cancer

Cooper's Ligaments

Connective tissue septa that connects perpendicularly to the breast lobules and extend out to the skin

Mammary Layer

Middle layer of the breast tissue that contains the ductal, glandular, and stromal portions of the breast

Subcutaneous Layer

Most superficial of the three layers of the breast identified on breast ultrasound

Juxtathoracic

Near the chest wall

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ

Neither considered a true cancer nor treated as such

Tail of Spence

Normal extension of breast tissue into the axillary region

Adenosis

Overgrowth of the stromal and epithelial elements of the acini within terminal ductal lobular unit (TDLU) of the breast

Breast Self- Examination

Part of breast cancer screening best done at the end of menses each month

Clinical Breast Examination

Part of breast cancer screening done by a health care provider

Radial

Plane of imaging on ultrasound of the breast

Antiradial

Plane of imaging on ultrasound of the breast that is perpendicular to the radial plane of imaging

Breast Cancer screening

Preventative care that includes annual screening mammography (starting at age 40) monthly breast self-examination, and regular clinical breast examination

Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia

The pathologist recognizes some, not all, of the features of carcinoma in situ

Areola

The pigmented skin surrounding the breast nipple

Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System

Trademark system created by the American College of Radiology (ACR) to standardize mammographic reporting terminology, categorizing breast abnormalities according to the level of suspicion for malignancy, and facilitate outcome monitoring

Diagnostic Breast Imaging

Type of breast imaging examination that is more intensive than routine screening mammography

Axilla

Armpit

Atypical Hyperplasia

Abnormal proliferation of cells with atypical features involving the TDLU, with an increased likelihood of evolving in to breast cancer

Palpable

Can be felt on physical examination

Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma

Cancer of the ductal epithelium; most common general category of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all breast cancers

Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma

Cancer of the lobular epithelium of the breast arises at the level of (TDLU) of the breast

Nonpalpable

Cannot be felt on clinical examination

Retromammary Layer

Deepest of the three layers of the breast noted on breast ultrasound

Peau D'orange

Descriptive term for skin thickening of the breast that resembles the skin of an orange

Breast

Differentiated apocrine sweat gland with a functional purpose of secreting milk during lactation

Hyperechoic

Echo texture that is more echogenic than the surrounding tissue

Isoechoic

Echo texture that resembles the surrounding tissue

Spiculation

Finger-like extensions of a malignant tumor

Cyst

Fluid-filled sac of variable size

Apocrine metaplasia

Form of fibrocystic change in which the epithelial cells of the acini undergo alteration

Acinus (acini)

Glandular (milk-producing) component of the breast lobule

Hypoechoic

Having relatively weak echoes

Gynecomastia

Hypertrophy of residual ductal elements that persist behind the nipple in the male

Breast Cancer

Involves two main types of cells (ductal lobular)

Fremitus

Refers to vibrations produced by phonation and felt through the chest wall during palpation

Sentenial Node

Represents the first lymph node along the axillary node chain

Atypical lobular hyperplasia

Shows some, but not all, of the features of lobular carcinoma in situ

Terminal Ductal Lobular Unit (TDLU)

Smallest functional portion of the breast involving the terminal duct and its associated lobule containing at least one acinus

Paget's Disease

Surface erosion of the nipple characterized by redness with flaking and crusting caused by direct invasion of the skin of the nipple by underlying breast cancer

Lobular Neoplasia

Term preferred by many authors to replace LCIS and and atypical hyperplasia

Anechoic

Without echoes

Asymptomatic

Without symptoms