Universidad Central del Caribe

School of Medicine
Center for the Development of Clinical Skills

Checklist for Breast Examination

Students name____________________________________________________Date_________________________________

DC NI ND NA

1. Introduce himself/herself.
2. Ask for permission.
3. Guarantee confidentiality.
4. Wash both hands.
5. Explain the procedure.
Expose both breasts completely.
7. Inspect both breasts completely and compare them
(size, symmetry, contour, skin color, and texture)
8. Inspect both breasts symmetrically.
9. Palpate right breast with pads of fingers of right breast,
applying gentle pressure.
10. Palpate the right breast in four quadrants.
11. Avoid using the tips of the fingers.
12. Palpate the patients left breast with pad of fingers and palm,
apply gentle pressure.
13. Palpate left breast in four quadrants.
14. Palpate nipples, aureola, attempt to express discharge from nipple.
15. Describe if mass is solid, rubbery or mobile.
16. Estimate the size of each mass.
Palpate the Tail of Spence
18. Palpate the axilla for lymph nodes
19. Educate patient on the importance of Self-examination