A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has disuse syndrome following cast removal from a lower extremity. Which of the following referrals should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Palpable area of induration, greater than 10 mm (0.4 in) in diameter. This indicates a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) reaction for a person with no known risk factors for TB infection. A positive TST reaction means that the person has been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB disease, and needs further testing to confirm the diagnosis and rule out active TB disease.

The other choices are not correct because:

- Choice A. Nonpalpable area of redness, less than 5 mm (0.2 in) in diameter. This indicates a negative TST reaction for any person, regardless of their risk factors for TB infection. A negative TST reaction means that the person has not been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or has a very low level of immune response to the bacterium.

- Choice B. Area of ecchymosis, greater than 12 mm (0.5 in) in diameter. This indicates a bruise or bleeding under the skin, not a TST reaction. Ecchymosis is not caused by the injection of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) into the skin, but by trauma or injury to the blood vessels.

- Choice C. Tenderness at the injection site. This indicates a mild local reaction to the injection of tuberculin PPD into the skin, not a TST reaction. Tenderness is not measured in millimeters of induration (firm swelling), which is the standard way of reading TST results.

Choice A rationale: Breast self-examinations should be performed monthly, not every other month. This regularity helps with early detection of any changes.

Choice B rationale: Dimpling of the skin on the breasts is not common and can be a sign of breast cancer or other conditions. This statement indicates a misunderstanding.

Choice C rationale: It is indeed common for one breast to be slightly larger than the other. This is a normal variation and not usually a cause for concern.

Choice D rationale: Breast self-examinations should be performed several days after the menstrual period ends, not the day the period begins. This timing helps to reduce the likelihood of hormonal changes affecting breast tissue.