Comprehensive Breast Exam

Source:
Alexandra Duncan, GTA, Praxis Clinical, New Haven, CT
Tiffany Cook, GTA, Praxis Clinical, New Haven, CT
Jaideep S. Talwalkar, MD, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Breast exams are a key part of an annual gynecological exam and are important for all patients, no matter their sex or gender expression. One out of every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer; male breast cancer, though less common, has a lifetime incidence of 1 in 1000.

Breast exams can feel invasive to patients, so it is important to do everything possible to make the patients feel comfortable and empowered, rather than vulnerable. Examiners should be aware of what they are communicating, both verbally and non-verbally, and give their patients control wherever possible (for instance, always allowing them to remove their own gowns). Examiners may choose to utilize chaperones for the patients' (as well as their own) comfort. Some institutions require the use of chaperones.

While it is always important to avoid overly clinical language, certain colloquial words can cross the line from caring to overly intimate in this exam. It is helpful to avoid the words "touch" and "feel" in this exam, as this language can feel sexualized. Instead, use words like "assess," "check," or "examine."

Additionally, the best practice dictates avoiding assumptions about patients' gender, as patients with female anatomy may identify as another gender (e.g., transgender, genderqueer, etc.). This video depicts the approach to patients whose history has revealed no specific complaints or risk factors related to breast health.

In order to avoid missing potential findings, the breast exam should be performed in a systematic approach and consist of three main components: visual inspection of the breast tissue, palpation of the lymph nodes, and palpation of breast tissue.

The breast tissue extends from directly under the clavicle to around the fifth rib (or bra line). Laterally, it extends from the midaxillary line to the sternal border. The breast is viewed in four quadrants; the upper outer quadrant has the most tissue and is the location of many lymph nodes, and the tail of Spence (or axillary tail) extends to the edge of the axilla, where it attaches to the chest wall (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Breast anatomical landmarks.