A patient with locally advanced breast cancer has skin edema, erythema, and warmth over the entire breast without a discrete mass, with dermal lymphatic invasion on punch biopsy. This presentation is best classified as:

• A T4d (inflammatory breast cancer) ✓
• B T4b breast cancer
• C T4c breast cancer
• D T3N2 breast cancer

Explanation

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is classified as T4d and is a clinical diagnosis requiring erythema and edema (peau d'orange) involving at least one-third of the breast skin, of rapid onset; dermal lymphatic invasion on biopsy supports but is not essential for the diagnosis. IBC is always at least Stage IIIB at presentation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by modified radical mastectomy (breast conservation is contraindicated) and radiation constitutes standard multimodality treatment.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.