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Breast Cancer Differential Diagnoses

Author: Alison T Stopeck, MD; Chief Editor: Jules E Harris, MD more... Updated: Nov 30, 2012

Diagnostic Considerations
The differential diagnosis includes the following: Circumscribed breast lesions: benign breast disease (eg, fibroadenomas, cysts), breast cancer, breast lymphoma, and metastasis to the breast from other primary sites Skin thickening: inflammatory carcinoma and mastitis Stellate lesions: breast cancer, traumatic fat necrosis, a radial scar, and a hyalinized fibroadenoma Dilated ducts with or without nipple discharge: papilloma, ductal carcinoma, duct ectasia, and fibrocystic disease

Differential Diagnoses
Breast Abscess and Masses Breast, Fibroadenoma

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author Alison T Stopeck, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center; Director of Clinical Breast Cancer Program, Arizona Cancer Center; Medical Director of Coagulation Laboratory, University Medical Center; Director of Arizona Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center Alison T Stopeck, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society, and Southwest Oncology Group Disclosure: Genentech Honoraria Speaking and teaching; AstraZeneca Honoraria Speaking and teaching; AstraZeneca Grant/research funds Other

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Breast Cancer Dif f erential Diagnoses

Coauthor(s) Patricia A Thompson, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Chief Editor Jules E Harris, MD Clinical Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center Jules E Harris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Hematology, and Central Society for Clinical Research Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Additional Contributors Leona Downey, MD Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Section of Oncology and Hematology, University of Arizona, Arizona Cancer Center Leona Downey, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Geriatrics Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Southwest Oncology Group Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Manjit Singh Gohel, MD, MRCS, MB, ChB Specialist Registrar, Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Harold Harvey, MD Professor, Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Kanchan Kaur, MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MRCS (Ed) Consulting Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon, Medanta, The Medicity, India Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Julie Lang, MD Assistant Professor of Surgery and the BIO5 Institute, Director of Breast Surgical Oncology, University of Arizona College of Medicine Julie Lang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Association for Academic Surgery, and Society of Surgical Oncology Disclosure: Genomic Health Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Agendia Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Surgical Tools Grant/research funds Research; Sysmex Grant/research funds Research Robert B Livingston, MD Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director, Clinical Research Shared Services, Arizona Cancer Center Robert B Livingston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Federation for Clinical Research, and American Society of Clinical Oncology Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Hanan Makhoul, MD Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas School of Medicine Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Issam Makhoul, MD Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Issam Makhoul, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology and
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Issam Makhoul, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Oncology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Therapeutic Expertise, Oncology, at PRA International Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, American Society of Hematology, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, European Society for Medical Oncology, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Society for Biological Therapy Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Hemant Singhal, MD, MBBS, FRCSE, FRCS(C) Senior Lecturer, Director of Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Imperial College School of Medicine; Consultant Surgeon, Northwick Park and St Marks Hospitals, UK Hemant Singhal, MD, MBBS, FRCSE, FRCS(C) is a member of the following medical societies: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Carl V Smith, MD The Distinguished Chris J and Marie A Olson Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of Nebraska Medical Center Carl V Smith, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nebraska Medical Association, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Wiley Souba, MD Chairman, Professor, Department of General Surgery, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine; Chief Surgeon, The Milton S Hershey Medical Center Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Rachel Swart, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona Rachel Swart, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Arizona Medical Association, and Southwest Oncology Group Disclosure: Roche Grant/research funds Other Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment Simon Thomson, MB, BCh, MD, FRCS Specialist Registrar, Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, UK Simon Thomson, MB, BCh, MD, FRCS is a member of the following medical societies: British Medical Association Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Breast Cancer Dif f erential Diagnoses

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