Is a breast dimple a sign of cancer?

[LI Girl]

Hi,

I am 32 and had mastitis earlier this year, on doing my breast self exam I found a dimple when I bend over at the waist and put my hands on my knees, it is on the lower right quadrant below the nipple line.  Can benign conditions cause this? Should I be concerned? My breasts are dense, would a breast MRI be the best bet? Thanks.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear LI Girl, If this is a new finding you are better off having your health care professional make an assessment of this.  It is difficult without being able to ask questions or see what you are describing to reassure you that it is a normal finding, or advise you to seek further evaluation.  A breast dimple is not a usual sign of cancer.

[LI Girl]

Thanks, and I am going to get it checked out this week.

[surgeon]

dimpling can be caused by several things; it is not at a sure sign of cancer, but it is definitely of concern and needs evaluation. Step one would be to see your doctor, and likely a referral to a breast surgeon. Mammogram would be the first step in imaging; I'd think MRI would neither be the first step, nor likely end up being needed to get to the bottom of it.

[surgeon]

fatty tissue, of which the breast has a lot, heals poorly when injured. There's a condition called fat necrosis (damage and death of fat cells from injury) which, in the breast, can mimic breast cancer by its appearance both by feel, look, and xray. Also, an infection -- new or old -- could do it. Again: the main thing is to have it checked; you shouldn't assume anything.

[LI Girl]

Dear Surgeon,

What could be some causes besides cancer?