An evaluation is requested for a 38-year-old G2P2 woman presenting with progressive right breast enlargement and erythema over the past three weeks. She recently completed a 10-day course of cephalexin for a presumptive diagnosis of mastitis, but her symptoms have worsened. The patient is not pregnant and last breastfed 4 years ago. She has no personal or family history of cancer. Her temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), blood pressure is 122/78 mm Hg, and pulse is 76/min. Physical examination reveals a globally swollen, erythematous right breast with prominent skin dimpling and thickening over the dependent portion. A 5-cm firm, ill-defined area of induration is palpated deep to the areola. A 2-cm, hard, mobile lymph node is palpable in the right axilla. Arrange the following steps in the most appropriate sequential order for the diagnostic workup and management of this patient's most likely condition.
- 1Diagnostic mammography and targeted ultrasound of the breast and axilla
- 2Core needle biopsy of the breast mass and skin punch biopsy
- 3Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy
- 4Modified radical mastectomy
- 5Postmastectomy radiation therapy