The malignant breast cancer is?

DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Pathology & Genetics

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is a malignant cancer, meaning it has invaded surrounding breast tissue.
It is the most common form of invasive breast cancer, making up approximately 80% of cases.
The term 'carcinoma' signifies a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Being 'invasive' or 'infiltrating' means the cancer has the potential to spread to lymph nodes and metastasize to distant parts of the body.

Option B: Fibroadenoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor. It is a solid growth of fibrous and glandular tissue and does not spread to other parts of the body.
Option C: Mastitis is an inflammatory condition, typically caused by infection, not a neoplastic (tumor) process. It presents with signs of inflammation like pain, redness, and warmth.
Option D: Intraductal papilloma is a benign tumor that grows inside a milk duct. While it can cause symptoms like nipple discharge, it is not a malignant cancer.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Differentiation between malignant and benign breast conditions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in breast health education, teaching patients how to perform breast self-examinations (BSE) and encouraging regular clinical exams and mammograms for early detection.
Accurate identification of breast conditions is critical. A malignant diagnosis like IDC requires immediate and complex care planning, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy, which involves significant nursing support.
What if? If a patient presents with a painful, red, swollen breast and fever, the initial suspicion should be mastitis, especially if they are breastfeeding. The immediate nursing action would be to facilitate medical review for antibiotics, rather than an immediate cancer workup, though cancer must be ruled out if it doesn't resolve with treatment (as inflammatory breast cancer can mimic mastitis).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'malignant'. Understand that 'malignant' means cancerous and has the ability to invade and spread.
Next, evaluate each option against this definition.
Recall or deduce the nature of 'Invasive ductal carcinoma'. The words 'invasive' and 'carcinoma' strongly indicate a malignant cancer.
Consider 'Fibroadenoma'. The suffix '-oma' can be benign or malignant, but fibroadenomas are classically known as benign breast lumps.
Analyze 'Mastitis'. The suffix '-itis' denotes inflammation, which is not a cancerous process.
Evaluate 'Intraductal papilloma'. A papilloma is a benign growth. While it can have associated risks, it is not malignant itself.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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