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Breast Surgical Techniques and Interdisciplinary Management pp 99–108Cite as

Obtaining a History and Performing the Clinical Breast Examination

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Abstract

Obtaining a proper and thorough history and clinical breast exam is important for the diagnosis, planning, and treatment of breast care. Although there is a natural desire to limit the historical information elicited from the patient to breast symptoms for brevity, information obtained regarding other organ systems can add significantly to the patient’s breast evaluation by contributing diagnostic clues about possible pathologic processes. The clinician’s ability to properly recognize abnormal physical finding is critical. The history and exam, in conjunction with breast imaging and biopsy, as indicated, form the core tools required for evaluating breast health concerns

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References

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Suggested Reading

  1. Berry DA, Iversen Jr ES, Gudbjartsson DF, et al. BRCAPRO validation, sensitivity of genetic testing of BRCA1/BRCA2, and prevalence of other breast cancer susceptibility genes. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:2701–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

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    Google Scholar 

  3. Claus EB, Risch N, Thompson WD. Autosomal dominant inheritance of early-onset breast cancer. Implications for risk prediction. Cancer. 1994;73:643–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Daly MB, Axilbund JE, Bryant E, et al. NCCN Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. genetic/familial high-risk assessment: Breast and ovarian. v.1.2007. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/genetics_screening.pdf Accessed 10 August 2007.

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    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Losken A, Fishman I, Denson DD, et al. An objective evaluation of breast symmetry and shape differences using 3-dimensional images. Ann Plast Surg. 2005;55:571–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. McTiernan A, Kuniyuki A, Yasui Y, et al. Comparisons of two breast cancer risk estimates in women with a family history of breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2001;10:333–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Spiegelman D, Colditz GA, Hunter D, Hertzmark E. Validation of the Gail et al. model for predicting individual breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1994;86:600–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Whelan T, Olivotto I, Levine M. Clinical practice guidelines for the care and treatment of breast cancer: breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (summary of the 2003 update). CMAJ. 2003;168:437–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Richard J. Bleicher

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  1. Richard J. Bleicher
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Correspondence to Richard J. Bleicher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Middle Ave. 1285, Menlo Park, 94025, California, USA

    Frederick Dirbas

  2. Iowa City, USA

    Carol Scott-Conner

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© 2010 Springer New York

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Bleicher, R.J. (2010). Obtaining a History and Performing the Clinical Breast Examination. In: Dirbas, F., Scott-Conner, C. (eds) Breast Surgical Techniques and Interdisciplinary Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6076-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6076-4_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-6075-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-6076-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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