This is a 52 year old Asian lady who complained of a lump in the left breast of a few months duration.
On inspection the left breast is smaller and at a higher level than the right with tethering of skin along the infra mammary crease. The nipple and areola are stretched out and oedematous.
On palpation there is a large hard mass occupying all quadrants of the breast and attached deeply to the rib cage with tethering of overlying skin. Large firm axillary nodes are present.
What is your diagnosis? Click
This is a locally advanced carcinoma breast.
On history there is a lump of short duration in a lady who is 52 years of age.
Physical findings include a hard mass attached to the rib cage with tethering of overlying skin.
Why? Click
How do you confirm the diagnosis? Click
In patients with no metastatic disease, consider induction systemic therapy and then proceed to surgery if it becomes operable and/or radiotherapy.
In patients with metastatic disease, systemic therapy is the mainstay of treatment, but consider surgery and radiotherapy for local control as in locally advanced disease.
How do you treat locally advanced carcinoma ?
Click
Triple assessment and diagnosis. Look for metastatic disease.
Locally Advanced Carcinoma
