During a breast examination on a female patient, the nurse notices that the nipple is flat, broad, and fixed. The patient states it "started doing that a few months ago." What does this finding suggest?

A) Dimpling
B) Retracted nipple
C) Nipple inversion
D) Deviation in nipple pointing

The retracted nipple looks flatter and broader, similar to an underlying crater. A recent retraction suggests cancer, which causes fibrosis of the whole duct system and pulls in the nipple. It also may occur with benign lesions such as ectasia of the ducts. The nurse should not confuse retraction with the normal long-standing type of nipple inversion, which has no broadening and is not fixed.