Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Small blood count
- Differential blood count
- Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) [mastitis puerperalis: +; mastitis non-puerperalis: ++; mammary abscess: ++]
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, etc. – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Bacterial smear (including resistance determination) – for differentiation of pathogens.
- Hormone diagnostics – for nonpuerperal mastitis (mastitis outside the puerperium).
- Prolactin (hyperprolactinemia?)
- TSH, fT3, fT4 (hyperthyroidism?)
- Histological clarification by punch biopsy or sample excision under antibiotic cover (no more than 3 punches from the main findings) – if inflammatory breast carcinoma is suspected.
- Tumor markers (CA 15-3, CEA, HER2/HER2 protein) – laboratory parameters that may be elevated in inflammatory breast carcinoma [these parameters are not suitable for screening!].
