These 17 slides are only to familiarize the medical students in Gynecology and Obstetrics to see and recognize common breast conditions. The breast disease can be seen by a family physician, or an Obstetrician or a surgeon. The treatment of the non- malignant conditions is done by the doctor who encounters the patient first. The postnatal lesions can be handled by the Obstetricians when diagnosis is clear. Timely referral to the surgical team for the malignant lesions can save the life. The medical student can pick up the lesion, and aim to diagnose for further care.
2. Left breast
This figure shows the
anatomical relations of the
left breast and the
lymphatic channels. The
breast lies over the
pectoral muscles and the
serratus muscles. It is
from the 2nd to the 6th
intercostal space, around
the mid axillary line.
3. Relations of breast over-chest
wall
The chest wall
and the breast
showing the
muscles, facia
and bony
structures
6. side view of the breast with its
lobules and ducts
7. Blood supply
The Blood supply of the breast is from the
internal mammary (int thoracic) vessels for
the medial side. The lateral side is
supplied by the lateral and dorsal thoracic
vessels. The axillary artery also supplies
the breast
8. Nerve supply
The nerve supply is from the anterior and lateral
cutaneous nerves fromm the 2nd to the 6th
intercostal space.
9. Lymphatic supply
This picture
shows the
lymphatic
supply of the
breast and the
small tumor
located in the
upper lateral
quadrant of the
breast
10. Clinical aspects- breast abscess
The breast abscess seen
in the left breast upper
part as a reddened
swelling can develop
after birth as a result of
infection in the ducts or
the lobules of the breast
when milk is present. The
organisms find the milk to
be a good culture
medium. Patients with
immunocompromised
states like diabetes or on
steroids or anticancer
drugs are more prone.
The treatment is always a
surgical incision and
drainage.
11. Breast engorgement
The breast
engorgement is a hard
tender all round
swelling with pain of
the breasts, after birth.
This develops by the
second or third day is
due to the milk
production that is not
released. If untreated
can progress to an
abscess.
The treatment is by
pain relief, hot
fomentation, breast
milk pumping, an
injection of 5 units of
oxytocin to let the milk
out and breast support
13. Cracked nipples
Cracked nipples are seen
in the antenatal period or
in the postpartum phase.
These cracks can
become painful and
infected- causing difficulty
in breastfeeding. These
are treated by creams to
soften and treat, followed,
by the cleaning with
warm water before every
feed.
14. Breast cancer
The breast cancer can present at any age
with different appearances. One of the
most common cancers in women. It is
diagnosed by a biopsy which can be a fine
needle one or a tissue biopsy. The
treatment by surgery is based on the
staging and the chemoradiation follows.
Patients seen by any doctor, will need to
be sent to the surgery or the oncosurgeon.
15. conclusions
Female breast is made up of lobules
and ducts with-in a fibro-fatty tissue
Breasts are located over the anterior
chest wall over pectoralis major
muscles.
The chief blood supply is from the
mammary arteries and the axillary
vessels.
The lymphatics drain into the
lymph nodes, found in the axilla, along
the costal margins and in the
16. Conclusions
The breast engorgement, nipple cracks,
mastitis and abscess occur in the postpartum
period.
Breast nodules may be benign like the
fibroma.
Fibrocystic disease is due to the hormone
effects resulting in bilateral nodules that
become painful pre- menstrual. These can
progress and are treated when symptomatic.
Breast cancer can start as a small painless
mass, in the early stages, or as large