Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Practice US Medical PG questions for Inflammatory breast cancer. These multiple choice questions (MCQs) cover important concepts and help you prepare for your exams.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 1: A 49-year-old woman presents to her physician with complaints of breast swelling and redness of the skin over her right breast for the past 1 month. She also mentions that the skin above her right breast appears to have thickened. She denies any pain or nipple discharge. The past medical history is significant for a total abdominal hysterectomy at 45 years of age. Her last mammogram 1 year ago was negative for any pathologic changes. On examination, the right breast was diffusely erythematous with gross edema and tenderness and appeared larger than the left breast. The right nipple was retracted and the right breast was warmer than the left breast. No localized mass was palpated. Which of the following statements best describes the patient’s most likely condition?
- A. It shows predominant lymphatic spread.
- B. The lesion expresses receptors for estrogen and progesterone.
- C. The lesion is due to Streptococcal infection.
- D. It is a benign lesion.
- E. The inflammation is due to obstruction of dermal lymphatic vessels. (Correct Answer)
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***The inflammation is due to obstruction of dermal lymphatic vessels.***
- The presentation of **rapid-onset breast swelling, redness, thickening of the skin, warmth, and nipple retraction** without a palpable mass is highly suggestive of **inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)**.
- IBC is characterized by the **obstruction of dermal lymphatic vessels by tumor cells**, leading to the classic inflammatory signs and **peau d'orange** appearance.
*It shows predominant lymphatic spread.*
- While IBC does involve **lymphatic spread**, this statement alone does not fully encompass the characteristic pathology of the condition causing the observed symptoms.
- The obstruction of the **dermal lymphatic vessels** is a more precise description of the immediate cause of the clinical presentation.
*The lesion expresses receptors for estrogen and progesterone.*
- Although some breast cancers are **hormone receptor-positive (ER/PR positive)**, there is no direct information in the vignette to suggest this specificity for the patient's condition.
- This statement refers to a **molecular characteristic** that is not a defining feature of the clinical presentation of IBC.
*The lesion is due to Streptococcal infection.*
- While a **bacterial infection** (like **streptococcal cellulitis**) can cause redness, swelling, and warmth, it typically presents with more acute symptoms, fever, and often a clearer response to antibiotics.
- The **thickening of the skin** and **nipple retraction** point away from a simple infection and towards a malignant process.
*It is a benign lesion.*
- The rapid progression of symptoms, pronounced skin changes, and nipple retraction are all **red flags for malignancy**, specifically inflammatory breast cancer.
- **Benign lesions** rarely cause such diffuse, severe, and rapidly progressing inflammatory signs.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 2: A 52-year-old woman visits your office complaining about discharge from her left nipple for the past 3 months. The discharge looks like gray greenish and its amount is progressively increasing. She appears to be anxious and extremely uncomfortable with this situation as it is embarrassing for her when it occurs outdoors. Past medical history is insignificant. Her family history is negative for breast and ovarian disorders. She tries to stay active by running for 30 minutes every day on a treadmill, staying away from smoking, and by eating a balanced diet. She drinks alcohol occasionally. During physical examination you find a firm, stable mass under an inverted nipple in her left breast; while on the right breast, dilated subareolar ducts can be noted. There is no lymphadenopathy and remaining of the physical exam is normal. A mammogram is performed which reveals tubular calcifications. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Duct ectasia (Correct Answer)
- B. Periareolar fistula
- C. Intraductal papilloma
- D. Periductal mastitis
- E. Phyllodes tumor
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Duct ectasia***
- The patient's presentation with **gray-green nipple discharge**, an **inverted nipple**, and **tubular calcifications on mammogram** are classic signs of duct ectasia in a postmenopausal woman.
- The presence of **dilated subareolar ducts** in the contralateral breast further supports this diagnosis, as it is a benign condition characterized by widening of the breast ducts.
*Periareolar fistula*
- This condition is typically associated with recurrent **subareolar abscesses** and chronic drainage, often from a nipple piercing or previous infection, which are not described here.
- Periareolar fistulas rarely present solely with gray-green discharge and tubular calcifications without a clear history of infection or abscess.
*Intraductal papilloma*
- Intraductal papillomas usually present with **serous or bloody nipple discharge**, rather than the gray-green discharge seen in this patient.
- While they can cause nipple discharge, they are not typically associated with **inverted nipples** or **tubular calcifications** on mammogram.
*Periductal mastitis*
- Periductal mastitis is an inflammatory condition that can cause nipple inversion and discharge, but the discharge is usually **purulent or inflammatory**, and it is often accompanied by signs of infection like pain, redness, and swelling, which are absent in this case.
- It is more commonly seen in **smokers**, whereas this patient is a non-smoker.
*Phyllodes tumor*
- Phyllodes tumors usually present as a **rapidly growing palpable breast mass**, which may be benign or malignant, but they are not typically associated with nipple discharge or tubular calcifications.
- The description of **gray-green discharge** and **tubular calcifications** does not align with the typical presentation of a phyllodes tumor.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 3: A 42-year-old woman presents to the physician because of an abnormal breast biopsy report following suspicious findings on breast imaging. Other than being concerned about her report, she feels well. She has no history of any serious illnesses and takes no medications. She does not smoke. She consumes wine 1–2 times per week with dinner. There is no significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows no abnormal findings. The biopsy shows lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) in the left breast. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
- A. Careful observation + routine mammography (Correct Answer)
- B. Left mastectomy + axillary dissection + local irradiation
- C. Lumpectomy + routine screening
- D. Lumpectomy + breast irradiation
- E. Breast irradiation + tamoxifen
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Careful observation + routine mammography***
- **Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)** is considered a **non-obligate precursor** to invasive carcinoma, meaning it indicates an increased risk for developing invasive breast cancer in either breast (approximately 1-2% per year), but it is not itself invasive.
- Management typically involves **careful surveillance** with routine clinical exams and **mammography**, as this is the most appropriate initial approach for classic LCIS.
- Surgical excision is often unnecessary due to LCIS's diffuse nature and the fact that it serves as a risk marker rather than a direct precancerous lesion requiring removal.
*Left mastectomy + axillary dissection + local irradiation*
- This aggressive approach is reserved for **invasive breast cancer** and would be excessive for LCIS, which is a non-invasive lesion and a marker of increased risk rather than an immediate threat.
- **Axillary dissection** is performed to stage nodal involvement in invasive cancer, which is not applicable here as LCIS does not metastasize.
*Lumpectomy + routine screening*
- While a **lumpectomy (excision)** may be considered for **pleomorphic LCIS** or when there is diagnostic uncertainty, it is not the standard initial management for classic LCIS.
- Classic LCIS is often multifocal and bilateral, making localized excision less effective as a risk-reduction strategy.
*Lumpectomy + breast irradiation*
- **Radiation therapy** is typically used to reduce local recurrence risk after **lumpectomy for invasive breast cancer** or **ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)**.
- For LCIS, irradiation is generally not recommended as it is non-invasive and does not benefit from local radiation treatment.
*Breast irradiation + tamoxifen*
- **Tamoxifen** is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that can be **offered for risk reduction** in women with LCIS, potentially reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer by approximately 50%.
- However, tamoxifen is typically discussed as an **additional preventive option** after initial diagnosis and counseling, not as the immediate next step.
- **Breast irradiation** is not indicated for LCIS, as it is non-invasive and does not require local radiation treatment, making this combination inappropriate.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 4: A 40-year-old man presents with a painless firm mass in the right breast. Examination shows retraction of the nipple and the skin is fixed to the underlying mass. The axillary nodes are palpable. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the above condition?
- A. Lobular cancer is the most common breast cancer in males (Correct Answer)
- B. BRCA2 mutations are associated with increased risk
- C. These are positive for estrogen receptor
- D. Endocrine therapy plays an important role in treatment
- E. Gynecomastia may be caused by certain medications
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Lobular cancer is the most common breast cancer in males***
- This statement is **FALSE** and is the correct answer. The most common type of breast cancer in males is **invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)**, accounting for about 80-90% of cases.
- **Invasive lobular carcinoma** is rare in men because men have very few lobules in their breast tissue.
*Gynecomastia may be caused by certain medications*
- This statement is **TRUE**. Medications such as spironolactone, cimetidine, finasteride, antipsychotics, and anabolic steroids can cause gynecomastia.
- However, the clinical presentation described (firm mass, nipple retraction, skin fixation, axillary nodes) is consistent with **malignancy**, not gynecomastia.
*BRCA2 mutations are associated with increased risk*
- This statement is **TRUE**. Male breast cancer is strongly associated with **BRCA2 mutations** (and less commonly BRCA1), which are hereditary.
- Men with BRCA2 mutations have a 5-10% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, compared to less than 0.1% in the general male population.
*These are positive for estrogen receptor*
- This statement is **TRUE**. A vast majority (over 90%) of male breast cancers are **estrogen receptor (ER) positive**, which makes them responsive to endocrine therapy.
- This high rate of ER positivity is even greater than in female breast cancers.
*Endocrine therapy plays an important role in treatment*
- This statement is **TRUE**. Given the high prevalence of ER positivity (over 90%), endocrine therapy such as **tamoxifen** or aromatase inhibitors is a cornerstone of treatment for male breast cancer.
- Endocrine therapy is used in both adjuvant and metastatic settings for hormone receptor-positive disease.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 5: An obese 34-year-old primigravid woman at 20 weeks' gestation comes to the physician for a follow-up examination for a mass she found in her left breast 2 weeks ago. Until pregnancy, menses had occurred at 30- to 40-day intervals since the age of 11 years. Vital signs are within normal limits. Examination shows a 3.0-cm, non-mobile, firm, and nontender mass in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. There is no palpable axillary lymphadenopathy. Pelvic examination shows a uterus consistent in size with a 20-week gestation. Mammography and core needle biopsy confirm an infiltrating lobular carcinoma. The pathological specimen is positive for estrogen and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors and negative for progesterone receptors. Staging shows no distant metastatic disease. Which of the following is the most appropriate management?
- A. Surgical resection and chemotherapy (Correct Answer)
- B. Surgical resection
- C. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy
- D. Radiotherapy only
- E. Surgical resection and radiotherapy
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Surgical resection and chemotherapy***
- This patient has **infiltrating lobular carcinoma** with **positive estrogen and HER2 receptors** but **negative progesterone receptors**.
- Given the patient's **pregnancy status** and the tumor's receptor profile, chemotherapy is indicated in addition to surgical resection.
*Surgical resection*
- While surgical resection is a critical component of breast cancer treatment, it is insufficient alone for this patient given the tumor's aggressive features and receptor status, particularly the **HER2 positivity**.
- **HER2-positive cancers** benefit significantly from targeted chemotherapy, which would be missed with surgery alone.
*Radiotherapy and chemotherapy*
- **Radiotherapy** for breast cancer typically involves daily treatments over several weeks and is often **deferred until after delivery** in pregnant patients due to potential fetal risks.
- While chemotherapy is appropriate, initiation of radiotherapy is generally postponed or individualized based on gestational age and specific circumstances.
*Radiotherapy only*
- **Radiotherapy alone** is not an appropriate primary treatment for an invasive breast carcinoma in this context.
- It often follows surgery to reduce local recurrence but does not address the systemic nature of **HER2-positive cancer**.
*Surgical resection and radiotherapy*
- As mentioned, **radiotherapy** is generally avoided or delayed in pregnant patients due to concerns about **fetal exposure**.
- Moreover, this approach omits **chemotherapy**, which is crucial for **HER2-positive breast cancer** to prevent recurrence and improve survival.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 6: A 48-year-old woman with a known past medical history significant for hypertension presents for a second opinion of a left breast lesion. The lesion was characterized as eczema by the patient's primary care physician and improved briefly after a trial of topical steroids. However, the patient is concerned that the lesion has started to grow. On physical examination, there is an erythematous, scaly lesion involving the left breast nipple-areolar complex with weeping drainage. What is the next step in the patient's management?
- A. Oral corticosteroids
- B. Left breast MRI
- C. Punch biopsy of the nipple, followed by bilateral mammography (Correct Answer)
- D. Maintain regular annual mammography appointment
- E. Bilateral breast ultrasound
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Punch biopsy of the nipple, followed by bilateral mammography***
- The presentation of an **erythematous, scaly lesion** involving the **nipple-areolar complex** with weeping drainage, especially after failing topical steroids, is highly suggestive of **Paget's disease of the breast**.
- A **punch biopsy** is essential for definitive diagnosis, and if confirmed, **bilateral mammography** is crucial to assess for underlying ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer, which is present in >90% of Paget's cases.
*Oral corticosteroids*
- While topical steroids initially improved the lesion, the failure of sustained improvement and the **progression of symptoms** suggest a more serious underlying pathology than simple eczema.
- Using systemic corticosteroids could **mask the progression** of a malignancy without addressing the root cause, delaying definitive diagnosis and treatment.
*Left breast MRI*
- **MRI** is a sensitive imaging modality for breast tissue but is typically used for **staging** a known malignancy or for high-risk screening, not as the primary diagnostic tool for a nipple lesion.
- A **biopsy** is required first to establish the diagnosis of Paget's disease or other malignancy before considering MRI for the extent of disease.
*Maintain regular annual mammography appointment*
- This approach is insufficient given the patient's **new and concerning symptoms** that are highly suspicious for **Paget's disease**, which often presents with abnormal mammographic findings or can be occult on mammography entirely.
- A regular screening schedule would significantly **delay diagnosis and treatment** of a potentially aggressive breast cancer.
*Bilateral breast ultrasound*
- **Ultrasound** can detect solid masses or cysts and is often used as an adjunct to mammography, especially in dense breasts, or to evaluate palpable findings.
- However, for a **nipple-areolar lesion** suspicious for Paget's disease, a **biopsy** is the most direct and definitive diagnostic step, as ultrasound may not adequately visualize the primary lesion or differentiate it from benign conditions.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 7: A 64-year-old woman presents to the surgical oncology clinic as a new patient for evaluation of recently diagnosed breast cancer. She has a medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus for which she takes metformin. Her surgical history is a total knee arthroplasty 7 years ago. Her family history is insignificant. Physical examination is notable for an irregular nodule near the surface of her right breast. Her primary concern today is which surgical approach will be chosen to remove her breast cancer. Which of the following procedures involves the removal of a portion of a breast?
- A. Arthroplasty
- B. Lumpectomy (Correct Answer)
- C. Vasectomy
- D. Mastectomy
- E. Laminectomy
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Lumpectomy***
- A **lumpectomy** is a surgical procedure that removes the **breast cancer tumor** and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue, preserving most of the breast.
- This procedure is a common treatment for early-stage breast cancer and is often followed by radiation therapy.
*Arthroplasty*
- **Arthroplasty** is a surgical procedure to **repair or replace a joint**, typically due to arthritis or injury.
- The patient's history of a total knee arthroplasty indicates this procedure was performed on her knee, not her breast.
*Vasectomy*
- A **vasectomy** is a surgical procedure for **male sterilization**, involving the cutting and sealing of the vas deferens.
- This procedure is unrelated to breast cancer treatment or breast surgery.
*Mastectomy*
- A **mastectomy** involves the **complete surgical removal of the entire breast**, often including the nipple and areola.
- While it is a breast surgery, it removes the *entire* breast, not just a portion.
*Laminectomy*
- A **laminectomy** is a surgical procedure that removes a portion of the **vertebra (lamina)** to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
- This procedure is for spinal conditions and is entirely unrelated to breast cancer surgery.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 8: A 58-year-old woman underwent mastectomy for multicentric DCIS. Final pathology shows high-grade DCIS with comedonecrosis, margins negative by 3 mm, no invasion identified in 40 tissue blocks examined. Sentinel lymph node biopsy shows isolated tumor cells (0.1 mm cluster) positive for cytokeratin. The medical oncologist requests input on systemic therapy. Evaluate the significance of the nodal finding and recommendations.
- A. Upstage to invasive cancer, recommend chemotherapy and endocrine therapy
- B. Perform completion axillary dissection to assess additional nodal involvement
- C. Consider isolated tumor cells clinically insignificant, node-negative staging, endocrine therapy only if ER-positive (Correct Answer)
- D. Recommend axillary radiation and systemic chemotherapy
- E. Repeat pathology review to identify occult invasion
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Consider isolated tumor cells clinically insignificant, node-negative staging, endocrine therapy only if ER-positive***
- Per AJCC guidelines, **isolated tumor cells (ITCs)** (clusters ≤ 0.2 mm or < 200 cells) are staged as **pN0(i+)**, which is considered node-negative disease.
- In the setting of pure **DCIS**, ITCs do not warrant staging as invasive cancer nor do they justify **systemic chemotherapy**; management depends solely on the tumor's **ER-status** for endocrine therapy.
*Upstage to invasive cancer, recommend chemotherapy and endocrine therapy*
- Staging cannot be upgraded to invasive cancer unless a **pathological focus of invasion** is identified in the breast tissue (T category).
- **Chemotherapy** is never indicated for pure DCIS, regardless of high-grade features or the presence of ITCs in the lymph nodes.
*Perform completion axillary dissection to assess additional nodal involvement*
- **Completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)** is not indicated for ITCs, as they do not carry the same prognostic weight as macro-metastases.
- In pure DCIS, the presence of ITCs is often attributed to **mechanical transport** of cells during biopsy rather than true metastatic potential.
*Recommend axillary radiation and systemic chemotherapy*
- **Axillary radiation** is reserved for patients with significant nodal burden and is inappropriate for **pN0(i+)** status.
- Because DCIS is a non-invasive, **pre-cancerous lesion** contained within the basement membrane, systemic chemotherapy provides no benefit and unnecessary toxicity.
*Repeat pathology review to identify occult invasion*
- While high-grade DCIS increases the risk of occult invasion, the examination of **40 tissue blocks** is considered exhaustive and standard for ruling out invasion.
- Persistent searching for micro-invasion after comprehensive sampling is unlikely to change the clinical management dictated by the **pN0(i+)** finding.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 9: A 36-year-old woman with BRCA2 mutation and strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer desires risk-reducing surgery. She has 2 young children and plans to have one more child in 2 years. She asks about timing of risk-reducing mastectomy and oophorectomy. Her mother died of ovarian cancer at age 45, and sister diagnosed with breast cancer at age 38. Evaluate the optimal counseling regarding surgical timing.
- A. Perform both risk-reducing mastectomy and oophorectomy immediately
- B. Defer both surgeries until after childbearing is complete
- C. Risk-reducing mastectomy now, oophorectomy after completion of childbearing
- D. Risk-reducing oophorectomy now, mastectomy after completion of childbearing (Correct Answer)
- E. Annual screening only until age 40, then reconsider surgery
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Risk-reducing oophorectomy now, mastectomy after completion of childbearing***
- **BRCA2** carriers are recommended to undergo **risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO)** by age 40-45 as ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate and lacks effective **screening methods**.
- High-risk breast screening with **MRI** and **mammography** can safely defer **bilateral mastectomy** until the patient completes childbearing and breastfeeding, balancing life-saving prevention with reproductive goals.
*Perform both risk-reducing mastectomy and oophorectomy immediately*
- Performing an **immediate oophorectomy** would cause surgical menopause and permanent **infertility**, preventing the patient's plan to have one more child in 2 years.
- While medically aggressive, this approach disregards the patient's **reproductive autonomy** and psychosocial needs without providing a curative benefit that outweighs the loss of fertility at this stage.
*Defer both surgeries until after childbearing is complete*
- Deferring all surgery increases the window of risk for **ovarian cancer**, which is difficult to detect early and has a significantly poor prognosis compared to breast cancer.
- This approach ignores the strong **family history** (mother died at 45) which suggests a high risk for early-onset malignancy in this specific pedigree.
*Risk-reducing mastectomy now, oophorectomy after completion of childbearing*
- Undergoing **bilateral mastectomy** now would prevent the patient from **breastfeeding** her future child, which may be a significant personal goal.
- Prioritizing mastectomy over oophorectomy is often less critical because **breast surveillance** (MRI/Mammogram) is more reliable than current **ovarian cancer screening** (CA-125/Ultrasound).
*Annual screening only until age 40, then reconsider surgery*
- Relying solely on **screening** is risky for **BRCA2** patients, especially for ovarian cancer where screening has not been proven to reduce mortality or detect early-stage disease reliably.
- Given the family history of a death at age 45, waiting until age 40 to even consider surgery may delay intervention past the point of **clinical benefit** for cancer prevention.
Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG Question 10: A 42-year-old premenopausal woman with newly diagnosed 2.5 cm triple-negative breast cancer and 3 positive axillary lymph nodes completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Post-treatment MRI shows residual 1 cm mass in breast and 1 abnormal lymph node. She desires breast conservation. The tumor board must evaluate the surgical plan considering residual disease burden and emerging data on post-neoadjuvant therapy.
- A. Mastectomy with reconstruction, no additional systemic therapy
- B. Additional neoadjuvant chemotherapy until complete response
- C. Lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy only, regional nodal radiation
- D. Lumpectomy, completion axillary dissection, standard adjuvant radiation
- E. Lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and consider pembrolizumab based on residual disease (Correct Answer)
Inflammatory breast cancer Explanation: ***Lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and consider pembrolizumab based on residual disease***
- In high-risk **triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)** with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the **KEYNOTE-522** trial supports continuing adjuvant **pembrolizumab** to improve event-free survival.
- Since the patient remains **node-positive** after neoadjuvant therapy, a **completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)** is indicated rather than sentinel node biopsy alone.
*Mastectomy with reconstruction, no additional systemic therapy*
- **Breast conservation** (lumpectomy) is an appropriate option if negative margins can be achieved, and the patient specifically desires it.
- Patients with **residual disease** after neoadjuvant therapy for TNBC require further systemic treatment, such as **capecitabine** or pembrolizumab, to reduce recurrence risk.
*Additional neoadjuvant chemotherapy until complete response*
- Chemotherapy is not typically continued indefinitely until a **pathologic complete response (pCR)** is achieved; surgical resection is the necessary next step once the standard regimen is completed.
- Delaying surgery for additional rounds of the same chemotherapy in a patient with **residual disease** may allow for further tumor progression or increase toxicity.
*Lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy only, regional nodal radiation*
- **Sentinel node biopsy** alone is insufficient here because the patient has persistent, biopsy-proven or radiologically **abnormal lymph nodes** after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- Current standards for patients who remain **node-positive** after chemotherapy typically require a formal **axillary lymph node dissection** to control regional disease.
*Lumpectomy, completion axillary dissection, standard adjuvant radiation*
- While this address the surgical components, it fails to include the critical **adjuvant systemic therapy** required for residual TNBC.
- Omitting post-neoadjuvant systemic treatment ignores data from the **CREATE-X** or **KEYNOTE-522** trials which show survival benefits for patients with residual TNBC.
More Inflammatory breast cancer US Medical PG questions available in the OnCourse app. Practice MCQs, flashcards, and get detailed explanations.
