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2) A healthy 22-year-old woman comes to the physician for evaluationof mass in the left breast discovered during breast selfexamination. Menarche was at age 12. She has 1 child who was bornwhen she was 2 years of age. She has no family history of breast orovarian cancer. !xcept for an oral contraceptive" which she has usedfor # years" she ta$es no medications. %hysical examination discloses a 1-cm" rubbery" smooth" nontendermass in the upper outer &uadrant of the left breast. 'here is no s$inretraction or lymphadenopathy.

 (hich of the following is the most li$ely diagnosis*ancer+alactocele

,ibroadenoma*ystAbscess

 our answer is correct 'he most common breast masses in young women are cysts andbroademonas.1 *lassically" bradenomas are mobile" solid masseswith well-dened" lobulated borders. ,ibroadenomas are usuallynontender with a rubbery feel by palpation.

 'ypically" a woman with a breast abscess would present with a tender"/uctuant mass often with overlying erythema. 0ltrasound can helpconrm the diagnosis and the treatment is incision and drainage.

 'he characteristics of a malignant breast mass include rm or hardconsistency and irregular or ill-dened borders. t is important to note"however" that the absence of these physical exam ndings cannot ruleout that a mass is malignant.

reast cysts present as smooth-walled" /uid lled masses that may betender. +alactoceles are also $nown as mil$ retention cysts and they are cystic/uid collections caused by an obstructed duct. 'hey are mostcommonly found in lactating women.

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