Breast Symptoms & Evaluation

Breast symptoms have many causes, including infections, cysts and swellings, with or without pain. Evaluation starts with a history and examination, and imaging or referral to a specialist breast service is arranged when required.

Breast lump

• Fibroadenoma
• Cysts and other benign lumps
• Breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma and Paget’s disease of the breast

Breast pain and infection

• Mastitis
• Subareolar abscess

Nipple discharge

• Intraductal papilloma
• Duct ectasia of the breast

Other conditions and screening

• Gynecomastia
• Breast screening concerns, assessed by age and risk

Where diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer or breast surgery is needed, evaluation and referral to a breast or surgical oncology service is arranged when appropriate.