Peau d'orange describes the characteristic appearance of skin overlying a breast carcinoma. It is due to invasion of the axillary lymphatics by tumour producing obstruction and subsequently, oedema of the overlying skin. This creates an orange peel appearance.
Overlying a breast lump, this appearance is almost pathognomonic of carcinoma. The differential diagnosis is inflammatory breast cancer where localised oedema may result from obliteration of cutaneous lymphatics by tumour cells.
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