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What Causes Dimples On Breast, Legs And Buttocks?
Question: I am 37 year old, female, and morbidly obese. I noticed a dimple on the side of my right breast. It's only visible when I have my arm down. If i lift my arm up or flex my biceps it disappears.
Do you think it is weight related? I do have dimples on my legs and buttocks due to weight.
Re: my breast - I don't have any nipple retraction or skin changes (other than the dimple).
Pleas help. I've got photos to send too. Photo 3 is when I hold my arm up and the dimple is not visible.
I'm really worried. Please help.
Do you think it is weight related? I do have dimples on my legs and buttocks due to weight.
Re: my breast - I don't have any nipple retraction or skin changes (other than the dimple).
Pleas help. I've got photos to send too. Photo 3 is when I hold my arm up and the dimple is not visible.
I'm really worried. Please help.
Brief Answer:
Breasts ultrasound should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Is there any lump palpable in this area or anywhere in the breast?
It is really hard to tell if this is just a skin dimple or a sign of something located in the deeper tissues. It can be weight related. This is most probable. But it is necessary to rule out the worst possibility at first. Nipple retraction or skin changes are late signs of breast cancer. So lack of the does not rule it out.
It is strongly advisable for you to have breasts and armpits ultrasound (not because this dimple, but generally every women should have such test from time to time). This is the only way to find out if there a reason to be concern or not. Without this test, no one is able to tell.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Breasts ultrasound should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Is there any lump palpable in this area or anywhere in the breast?
It is really hard to tell if this is just a skin dimple or a sign of something located in the deeper tissues. It can be weight related. This is most probable. But it is necessary to rule out the worst possibility at first. Nipple retraction or skin changes are late signs of breast cancer. So lack of the does not rule it out.
It is strongly advisable for you to have breasts and armpits ultrasound (not because this dimple, but generally every women should have such test from time to time). This is the only way to find out if there a reason to be concern or not. Without this test, no one is able to tell.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr,
There is no lump in this area or anywhere in the breast. I did have a fibroadenoma in that breast 13 years but I was told it was benign and nothing to worry about, and that there was no need for a follow up.
I will monitor the situation and have tests later in the year.
Do you think that it's significant that the dimple disappears when I hold my arm up, i.e. it's not visible all the time.
As I said I am very obese and do have dimples on my arms, legs and buttocks and so do you think that this dimple is most likely to do with weight?
My final question, is if it cancer related then will it change in depth, size etc over a period of months, or will it take longer than that? If it doesn't change at all, say in 6 months, then do you think it's just weight-related?
Thanks for your help.
There is no lump in this area or anywhere in the breast. I did have a fibroadenoma in that breast 13 years but I was told it was benign and nothing to worry about, and that there was no need for a follow up.
I will monitor the situation and have tests later in the year.
Do you think that it's significant that the dimple disappears when I hold my arm up, i.e. it's not visible all the time.
As I said I am very obese and do have dimples on my arms, legs and buttocks and so do you think that this dimple is most likely to do with weight?
My final question, is if it cancer related then will it change in depth, size etc over a period of months, or will it take longer than that? If it doesn't change at all, say in 6 months, then do you think it's just weight-related?
Thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
It can be weight related.
Detailed Answer:
The fact that this dimple disappears when rising the arm is nothing unusual. You simply stretch the skin so the dimple disappears. This does not rule anything out or confirm anything. This is how the skin acts.
If there is no lump palpable, this dime is most likely due to weight indeed. But you can not be sure without the ultrasound.
Cancer can grow very slowly or rapidly. It depends of its cells (how fast the cells can multiply). Some breast cancers can grow many years, some can appear within few months.
So lack of change during 6 months does not really tell anything at all.
Regards.
It can be weight related.
Detailed Answer:
The fact that this dimple disappears when rising the arm is nothing unusual. You simply stretch the skin so the dimple disappears. This does not rule anything out or confirm anything. This is how the skin acts.
If there is no lump palpable, this dime is most likely due to weight indeed. But you can not be sure without the ultrasound.
Cancer can grow very slowly or rapidly. It depends of its cells (how fast the cells can multiply). Some breast cancers can grow many years, some can appear within few months.
So lack of change during 6 months does not really tell anything at all.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Just to be on the safe side should I have a mammogram and ultrasound (or are they the same thing?).
I will wait until the end of the year to have this done. What other symptoms should I be alerted to, which signal danger?
Thanks.
I will wait until the end of the year to have this done. What other symptoms should I be alerted to, which signal danger?
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Mammography is fine if there is no lump palpable.
Detailed Answer:
You should have an ultrasound done if there is a lump palpable. If not, mammography can be done as the first test.
Mammography is used to detect small, not palpable tumors (early breast cancer). Ultrasound is used to detect larger lumps and to perform biopsy.
Breast pain, breast enlargement, night sweats, weight loss can be the alarming signs.
Mammography is fine if there is no lump palpable.
Detailed Answer:
You should have an ultrasound done if there is a lump palpable. If not, mammography can be done as the first test.
Mammography is used to detect small, not palpable tumors (early breast cancer). Ultrasound is used to detect larger lumps and to perform biopsy.
Breast pain, breast enlargement, night sweats, weight loss can be the alarming signs.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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