What are common symptoms of inflammatory carcinoma?

Inflammatory carcinoma, particularly inflammatory breast cancer, is characterized by significant changes in the appearance and texture of the skin over the breast, leading to a red, swollen, and bruised look. This condition arises from the blockage of lymphatic vessels in the breast, resulting in an inflammatory response. The skin may appear reddened and feel warm, reflecting the inflammatory nature of the disease.

The presence of this distinctive appearance is critical for diagnosis and sets inflammatory carcinoma apart from other types of breast cancer that may not exhibit such pronounced inflammatory symptoms. Inflammatory carcinoma often presents rapidly with these symptoms, which can mimic an infection, but the underlying cause is a malignant process rather than an infectious one. Recognizing this characteristic appearance helps in the timely diagnosis and appropriate management of the disease, emphasizing the importance of awareness of these specific symptoms in clinical practice.