How are benign breast conditions and infections diagnosed?
In addition to obtaining a complete medical history, your physician, in diagnosing a breast condition, may proceed with the following: • Perform a complete physical examination to: • locate any lump and feel its characteristics (i.e., texture, size, and relationship to the skin and chest muscles). • look for changes in the nipples or the skin of the breast. • check lymph nodes under the arm and above the collarbones. • Request imaging tests, including: • diagnostic mammography to look for masses and calcifications. • breast ultrasound to further evaluate information from the physical examination or mammography. • If there is discharge, other than breast milk, from the nipples, request a laboratory microscopic examination of the discharge. • If there is discharge, other than breast milk, from the nipples, request a ductogram x-ray of the nipples. • Request a biopsy of tissue removed from the suspicious area.
