While examining a 75-year-old woman, the nurse notices that the skin over her right breast is thickened and the hair follicles are exaggerated. What is this condition called?

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This condition is known as peau d'orange. Lymphatic obstruction produces edema, which thickens the skin and exaggerates the hair follicles. The skin has a pig-skin or orange-peel appearance. This condition suggests cancer. Dimpling, or a pucker, indicates skin retraction. Retraction signs are caused by fibrosis in the breast tissue, usually caused by growing neoplasms. The fibrosis shortens with time, causing contrasting signs with the normally loose breast tissue. Benign breast disease is multiple tender masses that occur with numerous symptoms and physical findings such as swelling and tenderness, nodularity, dominant lumps, nipple discharge, and infections or inflammation. The symptoms this patient has indicate peau d'orange. In peau d'orange, lymphatic obstruction produces edema, which thickens the skin and exaggerates the hair follicles. The skin has a pig-skin or orange-peel appearance. This condition suggests cancer.

While Examining a 75-Year-Old Woman, the Nurse Notices That the Skin