Which of the following are clinical signs of a breast cyst?

• A. A palpable, movable, compressible nodule
• B. A fixed, hard, non-tender mass
• C. Pain only during pregnancy
• D. No change with menstrual cycle

Answer: (A)

Breast cysts typically present as fluid-filled, soft lesions that you can feel as a nodule which is movable and compressible on palpation. This mobility and pliability reflect their fluid content and lack of strong attachment to surrounding tissue. They’re often associated with hormonal changes and can fluctuate in size or tenderness with the menstrual cycle, commonly becoming tender or larger just before menses and shrinking afterward.

The description of a lesion that is fixed, hard, and non-tender fits more with a solid mass rather than a cyst, which is why that option isn’t the best match. Pain that occurs only during pregnancy is not specific to cysts, and many cysts do change with the menstrual cycle, so “no change with menstrual cycle” does not align with the typical cyst behavior.