Which breast skin appearance corresponds to peau d'orange on exam?

Which breast skin appearance corresponds to peau d'orange on exam?

• A. Skin Thickening With Orange-Peel Texture
• B. Skin Thinning
• C. Ultrasonographic Skin Dimpling Only
• D. No Skin Changes

Answer: (A)

Peau d’orange is defined by thickened skin with an orange-peel texture caused by edema from lymphatic obstruction. On exam this appears as coarse, pitted skin with a tethered, irregular surface, giving the telltale orange-rind look. This appearance signals skin involvement often seen with inflammatory or locally advanced breast disease, making it the correct description. Skin thinning would be the opposite, and dimpling alone or no skin changes don’t capture the characteristic texture of peau d’orange.

Peau d’orange is defined by thickened skin with an orange-peel texture caused by edema from lymphatic obstruction. On exam this appears as coarse, pitted skin with a tethered, irregular surface, giving the telltale orange-rind look. This appearance signals skin involvement often seen with inflammatory or locally advanced breast disease, making it the correct description. Skin thinning would be the opposite, and dimpling alone or no skin changes don’t capture the characteristic texture of peau d’orange.