How should we manage non-cyclical mastalgia, in the absence of a palpable lump or costochondritis?
It is important to try to establish whether the pain is of mammary or extra-mammary origin. A variety of extramammary causes can produce referred pain to the breast but the most common culprit is the rib cage. After the patient has pointed to the site of the pain, gentle palpate to exclude discrete masses. It is often possible to reproduce the pain by placing a finger on the affected rib when the patient is on her side so the breast tissue tends to fall away from the chest wall. This will be sufficient reassurance for most patients, although some may benefit from an NSAID. Breast pain, in the absence of a lump, is almost never an indication of an underlying carcinoma but prolonged pain may fuel anxiety. But there remains a hard core of patients with breast pain who will not accept the reassurance of their GP and are referred sooner or later to be finally reassured after – probably unnecessary – breast imaging. 9. Is nipple discharge suspicious of malignancy, or could it have a benign c
Related Questions
- Is a palpable lump in the side a symptom of colon cancer? Or is it only found as a polyp inside and can not be felt?
- As a manager, can I wait until the day I get the official "approve time" email to manage any employee exceptions?
- How should we manage non-cyclical mastalgia, in the absence of a palpable lump or costochondritis?
