The Phantom Breast Syndrome is defined as the sensation of persistence of the breast after surgical removal.
Subtypes:
(1) non-painful
(2) painful (phantom breast pain), which may be intermittent or fairly constant
Pain may be experienced as involving either:
(1) nipple only
(2) entire breast
Types of pain:
(1) exteroceptive: knifelike, sticking, shooting, pricking
(2) proprioceptive: squeezing, throbbing, burning, pressing, crushing
(3) mixed (both exteroceptive and proprioceptive)
Some patients may notice that the symptoms can be precipitated or relieved by activities such as:
(1) emotional stress
(2) exercise
(3) change in weather
(4) heat
(5) pressure
(6) clothing (rubbing or pressure)
(7) other
In addition, some patients had pain associated with the surgical scar (cicatrix or cicatricial pain).
