How is inflammatory breast cancer diagnosed?

The condition often causes diffuse redness, swelling, warmth, skin thickening, or a breast that feels heavier. A defined lump may be absent. Because these signs can resemble mastitis or another inflammatory problem, appearance alone cannot establish the diagnosis. The clinician considers how quickly the change developed, examines both breasts and the armpits, and reviews any previous imaging or treatment.

Diagnostic mammography and ultrasound can show changes in breast tissue and lymph nodes. MRI may help map the affected area when more detail is needed. A core needle biopsy removes small tissue samples for laboratory analysis; a skin biopsy may also be considered when the skin is involved. If cancer is found, tests may examine hormone receptors and other tumour features. Scans or node sampling can help determine whether disease is limited to the breast and nearby nodes.

Contact a clinician promptly for breast redness, swelling, warmth, peau d’orange skin, nipple change, or an armpit lump that does not settle or is worsening. Seek same-day care for fever with marked breast pain or rapid deterioration, since infection can need immediate treatment. A lack of improvement after treatment for suspected infection should lead to reassessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

Ask which imaging test comes first, whether a biopsy will sample breast skin or a lymph node, when results are expected, and whether additional scans are needed. Ask what the pathology findings mean for medicines before surgery, surgery, and radiotherapy.