What might be a consequence of tumor invasion of the breast's suspensory ligaments?

Tumor invasion of the breast's suspensory ligaments, also known as Cooper's ligaments, can lead to dimpling of the skin. These ligaments play a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of the breast. When a tumor invades these ligaments, it can disrupt their normal function, causing the skin to adhere unevenly to the underlying structures. This can result in puckering or dimpling of the skin over the area where the tumor is located.

The alteration in the breast's contour due to the retraction of the ligaments creates these characteristic changes in the skin's appearance. It is important to recognize such changes, as they may indicate the presence of a malignancy and warrant further investigation. Other potential signs, while they may occur independently, are not directly linked to this specific pathological process like dimpling is.