A 51-year-old woman complained to her family practitioner that she had felt very fatigued for several weeks. She had lost 7â10 pounds in weight over the previous month. On physical examination the physician discovered a firm nodular swelling, about 3â4 cm in diameter, in the left breast that was anchored in tissue several centimeters beneath the skin.
Questions:
1. To which additional areas of this womanâs body should the physician direct special attention during the physical examination and why?
2. Which muscle should be caused to contract in order to demonstrate the fixation of the swelling?
3. Following surgical removal of the swelling and exploration of the axilla, the patient is found to have a winged scapula. How has this occurred?
4. Following surgery, she noted a swollen left arm. Why?
A 51-year-old woman complained to her family practitioner that she had felt very fatigued for several weeks. She had lost 7â10 pounds in weight over the previous month. On physical examination the physician discovered a firm nodular swelling, about 3â4 cm in diameter, in the left breast that was anchored in tissue several centimeters beneath the skin.
Questions:
1. To which additional areas of this womanâs body should the physician direct special attention during the physical examination and why?
2. Which muscle should be caused to contract in order to demonstrate the fixation of the swelling?
3. Following surgical removal of the swelling and exploration of the axilla, the patient is found to have a winged scapula. How has this occurred?
4. Following surgery, she noted a swollen left arm. Why?
