From the Guidelines
Suspension of Cooper ligaments is more common than peau d'orange in inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer, as described in the guidelines by 1, is characterized by rapid onset of breast erythema, edema, and/or peau d’orange, with a duration of history of no more than 6 months, and erythema occupying at least one-third of the breast. The suspension of Cooper ligaments, which are fibrous bands that support the breast tissue, occurs due to the inflammation and edema caused by the rapid growth and invasion of cancer cells into the lymphatic vessels. While peau d'orange is a classic sign of inflammatory breast cancer, it typically develops later in the disease progression after lymphatic obstruction becomes more pronounced. The suspension of Cooper ligaments, on the other hand, occurs earlier as the inflammatory process begins to affect the breast architecture.
Key characteristics of inflammatory breast cancer include:
- Rapid onset of symptoms
- Erythema and edema of the breast
- Peau d'orange
- Pathological confirmation of invasive carcinoma
- Strongly recommended testing for hormone receptors and HER2, as stated in 1
The distinction between the suspension of Cooper ligaments and peau d'orange is important for early diagnosis, as recognizing the suspension of Cooper ligaments on imaging studies like mammography or ultrasound may help identify inflammatory breast cancer before the more obvious skin changes of peau d'orange become visible. Prompt recognition is crucial as inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form that requires immediate treatment with a multimodal approach including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, as recommended by 1.
From the Research
Comparison of Suspension of Cooper Ligaments and Peau d'Orange
- The provided studies do not directly compare the suspension of Cooper ligaments and peau d'orange in breast cancers.
- However, the studies discuss the characteristics and clinical findings of inflammatory breast cancer, which often presents with peau d'orange 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Peau d'orange is a common clinical finding in inflammatory breast cancer, reported in 65% of patients in one study 3.
- There is no mention of the suspension of Cooper ligaments being more common than peau d'orange in any of the provided studies.
- The studies focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of inflammatory breast cancer, highlighting its aggressive nature and poor outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.