What is the significance of breast palpation?

Breast palpation is actually a common way to examine the breasts. Palpation is to check whether there are any lumps in the breasts and to understand the health of the breasts in a timely manner. As for the significance of breast palpation, it can actually reflect the health of the breast more directly. If a breast lump occurs, a more careful examination can be carried out, so that the disease can be discovered in time.

Abnormal results:

(1) Breast lumps: First of all, we should pay attention to whether the lumps in the front chest originate from the breast. When the breast is pushed, the mass from the anterior chest wall (such as costochondritis, rib tumor, chest wall tuberculosis, etc.) will not move due to changes in the position of the breast. When a clear breast lump is felt, attention should be paid to its size, location, number, texture, tenderness, neat shape, clear edges, smooth surface, and adhesion to surrounding tissues such as the skin, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior muscles. By gently pinching the skin on the surface of the lump, you can find out whether the lump is adhered to the skin; if there is adhesion but no signs of inflammation, you should be especially alert to the possibility of breast cancer. When checking whether the mass is adhered to deep tissue, first test the mobility of the mass in the horizontal and vertical directions, and then use the pectoralis major muscle contraction test.

(2) Axillary lymph nodes: Except for acute and chronic inflammation, benign breast lesions generally do not cause enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes. When examining the axillary lymph nodes, the doctor faces the patient and palpates the patient's left armpit with his right hand and the patient's right armpit with his left hand. First, ask the patient to raise the upper limb on the examined side. The examiner inserts his hand into the axilla to the highest position, that is, the axillary lymph node apex, with the palm side of the fingers facing the patient's chest wall. Then ask the patient to put down his upper limb and place it on the examiner's forearm. The axillary apex, anterior axillary wall, posterior axillary wall, and anterior and medial side of the latissimus dorsi muscle are palpated in turn. Check for enlarged lymph nodes under and above the clavicle. After checking the affected side, you should also check the opposite side. When you palpate swollen lymph nodes, pay attention to their location, number, size, texture, tenderness, and mobility. People who need to be examined: People who have breast lumps and middle-aged women.

Precautions

Unsuitable group: breastfeeding women.

Taboos before examination: Pay attention to the particularity of breast disease history, as various diseases may affect the examination.

Requirements during the examination: Relax during the examination. The examination may cause physical and mental burden, so you should face it positively and actively cooperate with the examination. The examination requires exposing your breasts, so you should wear clothes on your upper body that are easy to take off. Perform the examination at the best time, such as around the 10th day of the menstrual cycle, to avoid interference caused by physiological changes in the breast during the menstrual cycle. Adequate lighting should be provided during the examination to avoid overlooking signs caused by minor lesions. When facing the doctor during the examination, whether you are standing or sitting, try to relax as much as possible so that the doctor can get more accurate examination results. Breast palpation is the use of palpation to examine the breasts. The key point of palpation is to understand whether there are lumps in the breasts and the nature of the lumps.