Breast lump assessment

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and examining a breast lump is an important and essential skill for all junior doctors working in surgical rotations. The key points to consider when assessing a breast lump are: to offer a chaperone and record their name and occupation, to regard any breast lump as potentially malignant until proven otherwise and to ensure that appropriate investigations and follow ups are arranged. If a breast lump is identified the patient will require ‘triple assessment’ which consists of: clinical examination, imaging and tissue sampling. Intraductal papilloma is the most common cause of blood stained nipple discharge, the next being adenocarcinoma. They are benign localised areas of epithelial proliferation within large mammary ducts. They increase the risk of developing invasive breast carcinoma and normally present with unilateral bloody discharge from the nipple. Breast lumps are common in women and it is important to differentiate between benign and malignant pathology.