• 15 October 1982
    • journal article
    • Vol. 127  (8) , 729-30
Abstract
An annual clinical screening test for breast cancer must be simple, brief and efficient. The traditional physical examination of the breast is time-consuming, mainly because of the complicated maneuvers necessary to inspect for retraction. Palpation with the patient supine, however, can be performed quickly. Of 286 primary breast cancers 96% (275) were palpable as a lump, and this was the only clinical sign in 55%. Retraction was the sole clinical sign in only 1%. The combination of retraction and a solid lump is a very specific but not very sensitive test for breast cancer. Retraction in this series was not related to the size of the primary tumour but among the women with a cancerous breast lump was significantly more likely to be found in those over 44 years of age, being present in 52% of these women but only 10% of the younger women. Inspection of the breast can therefore safely be detected from screening breast examinations, whether performed by the physician or the patient.