Breast lumps and other conditions

Speciality: General surgery Age group: Adult

Eligibility

At least one must be met for the patient to be eligible for referral.

Clinically suspected or confirmed breast lumps and other conditions with initial primary-care work-up completed

Red flags

Indicate urgent (Category 1) referral or emergency assessment.

Breast abscess failing drainage

Lactational mastitis with systemic symptoms

Routine referral criteria

Determine Category 2 or 3 urgency.

New palpable and persistent cyst(s) with complex features on imaging

Recurrent cyst(s) with complex features on imaging

Palpable, symptomatic, or growing fibroadenoma

Any one component of the triple test is positive (clinical examination, imaging or non-excisional biopsy)

Incomplete cyst aspiration, bloody aspirate (not traumatic) or a lump that remains post-aspiration

Spontaneous unilateral, bloody or serous discharge from a single duct, particularly if older than 60 years

Eczematoid changes of the nipple-areolar skin for longer than 2 weeks that fails to respond to topical treatment

Inflammatory breast conditions not resolving after 2 weeks of antibiotic treatment

Usually managed in primary care