lump mobility
Last reviewed 01/2018
A breast lump may be:
- free
- tethered
- fixed
Relative to skin, a lump is said to be tethered when it can be moved independently of the skin for a limited distance; it is fixed, when no independent movement is possible.
The relation of a lump to muscle is more difficult to clarify. One method is to gauge the degree of movement of the lump in two directions at right angles to each other, at first with the muscle relaxed, and then with it tensed. Pectoralis major can be contracted by asking the patient to press her hand against her hip.
The less the movement when the muscle is tensed, the more likely that the lump is fixed and not tethered.