Differential Diagnosis For An Adolescent Female Palpable Breast Mass: Disease Categories

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to covering the differential diagnosis for an adolescent female palpable breast mass. This differential will be organized by disease categories.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DISEASE CATEGORIES?

When thinking about the differential for an adolescent female palpable breast mass the following disease categories come to mind:

• Infectious
• Benign 
• Malignant 

INFECTIOUS CAUSES OF A PALPABLE BREAST MASS IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES

The following are infectious causes of this medical problem:

• Mastitis
• Breast abscess

BENIGN CAUSES OF A PALPABLE BREAST MASS IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES

The following are benign causes of this medical problem:

• Fibrocystic breast changes 
• Fibroadenoma
• Fat necrosis
• Intraductal papilloma
• Mammary duct ectasia
• Montgomery tubercle cyst

MALIGNANT CAUSES OF A PALPABLE BREAST MASS IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES

The following are malignant causes of this medical problem:

• Primary breast cancer (broad topic)
• Secondary breast cancer (i.e. after exposure to radiation)
• Metastatic cancer
• Phyllodes tumor

Page Updated: 01.04.0216