title: Physical and mammographic diagnosis of breast cancer and initial work-up.
abstract: This article briefly reviews breast cancer examination and discusses a variety of physical changes that may occur in the breast suffering from breast cancer. The selected topics include evaluation of breast masses, nipple discharge, nipple changes other than discharge, and a discussion of inflammatory breast cancer and its differentiation from mastitis. Breast cancer appearing as a solitary axillary mass is also discussed. A brief discussion is also undertaken of aspiration cytology, mammographically directed needle localized open biopsies, and mammographically directed or stereotactic needle aspirations for cytology.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bays
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*