ABSTRACT
The breast in adult females overlies the pectoral region, extending from the second rib above to the sixth rib or inframammary crease below. The axillary tail of the breast is palpable in some women and can be seen in the premenstrual period or during lactation. A well-developed axillary tail is sometimes mistaken for a mass of enlarged lymph nodes, a breast mass or a lipoma. The breast parenchyma consists of ductolobular and supportive tissue. The areola and nipple contain involuntary muscle arranged in concentric rings as well as radially in the subcutaneous tissue. Patients presenting with a breast lump, nipple discharge or other symptoms are assessed by a combination of clinical examination, radiological imaging and tissue sampling taken for either cytological or histological analysis. Mammography in two planes and ultrasonography are the first-line investigations for imaging the breast.
