| Term | Definition |
|---|
| abscess | a cavity containing puss and surrounded by inflamed tissue, formed as a result of suppuration in a localized infetion, characteristically caused by staphylococci but also caused by parasites and foreign substances. |
| acanthosis nigricans | a skin disease characterized by hyperpigmented, velvety thickening of the skin, common in the neck, axilla, and groin. There are benign and malignant forms. |
| benign fibrocystic disease | the presence of single or multiple cysts that are palpable in the breasts. The cysts are benign and fairly common, yet must be considered potentially malignant and observed carefully for growth or change. In most cases no treatment is required |
| BSE | breast self examination; a procedure in which a woman examines her breasts and their accessory structures for evidence of change that could indicate a malignant process. Usually performed 1 week to 10 days after the first day of the menstrual cycle. |
| dimpling | small, abnormal indentations or depressions on the surface of a body or organ. |
| discharge | to release a substance or object. |
| ductal ectasia | an abnormal dilation of a duct by lipids and cellular debris. In a mammary duct the condition, which tends mainly to affect postmenopausal women, may be accompanied by inflammation and infiltration by plasma cells |
| engorgement | distension or vascular congestion of body tissues, such as the swelling of breast tissue caused by an increased flow of blood and lymph before true lactation |
| fissure | a cleft or groove on the surface of an organ, often marking its division into parts, such as the lobes of a lung; a crack-like lesion of the skin, such as an anal fissure |
| galactorrhea | a spontaneous flow of milk from the nipple; lactation not associated w/ childbirth or nursing |
| gynecomastia | an abnormal enlargement of one or both breasts in males. Milk production may or may not be presesnt |
| hidradenitis suppurativa | a chronic suppurative and cicatricial disease of the apocrine gland-bearing areas, chiefly the axillae and anogenitial region caused by occlusion of the pores with secondary bacterial infection of apocrine sweat glands. Characterized by the development of one or more tender red abscesses that enlarge and break through the skin, yielding purulent or seropurulent drainage. |
| mastitis | inflammation or infection of the breast |
| mastodynia | pain in the breast |
| nipple inversion | when the nipple grown inwards instead of out. |
| Paget's disease | a plaque with a definite margin found in the anogenital area and in the axilla. It is a rare malignant disease and is treated by surgical excision. |
| peau d'orange | dimpling, pitting, and swelling, seen in skin that is considerably inflamed or that overlies inflammatory carcinoma of the breast. |
| polymastia | having more than one breast |
| retraction | shortening; the act of drawing backward or the condition of being drawn back. |
| witch's milk | milk secreted from the breasts of some newborn infants; resolves without treatment 1-2 wks after birth. |
| adenofibroma | a tumor of fibrous and glandular tissue (connective tissue); usually found in uterus and breast area. |
| polythelia | having more than one nipple |
| supernumerary | exceeding the regular number |
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