Assessment of

the
Breast
BSN-2
Ibrahim, Fatima Aliya T.
Jamalul, Nur-ina J.
 Assessment

Inspection: Palpation:
• Position and Symmetry • Tenderness and
• Size and Shape temperature.
• Lesions and Discharge • Masses
• Color and texture • Nipples
• Superficial appearance • Texture and Elasticity.
• Areolas • Mastectomy or
• Nipples Lumpectomy site.
Inspect breast with the patient
in various positions:
4 Quadrants:
 Used to described finding or
location of abnormalities.

Nipple
 Is the small, raised, cylindrical
projection located at the
center of the breast.

Areola
 The areola is the circular dark-
colored area of skin
surrounding the nipple.
Starting at the outer Starting at the outer Starting near the
edge of the breast, edge of the breast, underarm, move fingers
move fingers slowly in a move fingers toward the downward below the
concentric circle around nipple and then back to breast, then up toward
the whole breast until the edge covering the the middle and back up.
reaching the nipple. whole breast area. Repeat slowly over entire
breast area.
Palpation: Nipple Nipple Discharge
 Milky discharge
 Purulent discharge
 Watery and bloody discharge
 Normal and Abnormal Features Characteristics of
Breast Assessment
Normal features: Abnormal Feature:
• Both breasts may not be the same size. • Changes in the shape or size of the breast.
• Nipple pointing forward • Inverted nipple
• No discharge from nipples • Discharge from nipple
• No lumps or nodules • Breast lump or nodule
• No puckering or dimpling of the skin • Puckering or dimpling of the skin
• No redness or swelling • Redness or swelling
• Smooth skin texture • Thickening or hardening of the breast tissue
• No pain or tenderness • Pain or tenderness
• No visible veins • Visible veins
• No changes in skin texture or color • Skin discoloration
Terminology
• Mastitis - Inflammation of breast tissue
• Macromastia – Breasts are significantly larger than normal.
• Micromastia - Breasts are underdeveloped or smaller than average.
• Gynecomastia – Enlargement of breast tissue in men
• Galactorrhea - Milk production from the breast
• Mastalgia - Breast pain
• Cyclical breast pain is linked to changing hormone levels during the
menstrual cycle. Fibroadenoma – Breast tumor
• Fibrocystic breast – Lumpy breast
• Peau d'orange - A pitted or dimpled appearance of the skin
• Paget's disease - Rare form of breast cancer that affects the skin and
nipple of the breast.
• Colostrum - The fluid your breasts produce in the first few days after
birth .