A 34-year-old woman notices a tender, cord-like structure running vertically down the lateral aspect of her right breast to the epigastrium two weeks after stopping oral contraceptives. Examination shows a firm subcutaneous band without any breast lump. What is the diagnosis?
- A Fat necrosis
- B Mammary duct ectasia
- C Mondor's disease ✓
- D Periductal mastitis
Correct answer: C. Mondor's disease
Explanation
Mondor's disease is superficial thrombophlebitis of the thoracoepigastric or lateral thoracic vein presenting as a painful cord-like band on the chest wall. It is self-limiting and treated symptomatically with analgesia and warmth, resolving within weeks. Duct ectasia and periductal mastitis present with nipple discharge, retraction or periareolar inflammation, and fat necrosis presents as a discrete lump, none of which produce a palpable cord.
Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.