Abstract
Objectives: Benign conditions are the most frequent cause of nipple discharge, but malignant and precancerous lesions, such as ductal papilloma and papillomatosis, need to be ruled out. This study aims to evaluate the value of ductoscopy.Methods: Between 1999 and May 2005, 86 ductoscopies were completed in 71 patients with uni- or bilateral nipple discharge after excluding extramammary etiologies. Nipple discharge had been present in 76 breasts. Preoperative noninvasive and minimal-invasive tests were compared with ductoscopy and open biopsy results. In 71 ductoscopies, histological results were available for comparison. Histologic assessment revealed 13 benign lesions, 44 papillomas, five precursor lesions, six DCIS and three invasive carcinomas.Results: Breast duct endoscopy was successfully completed in all 86 cases, galactography in only 18 cases. Only mammography and duct sonography reached statistical significance with respect to detecting abnormal tissue. All techniques except MRI reached satisfactory sensitivities and specificities. Only duct sonography and ductoscopy had sensitivity values greater than 60%.Conclusions: Sonography and ductoscopy are similarly sensitive and specific for detecting intraductal lesions. A more precise assessment of ductoscopy will require further studies. In order to increase the detection rate of in-situ carcinomas, endoscopic techniques for obtaining intraductal biopsies should be improved and be used more frequently. Objectives: Benign conditions are the most frequent cause of nipple discharge, but malignant and precancerous lesions, such as ductal papilloma and papillomatosis, need to be ruled out. This study aims to evaluate the value of ductoscopy. Methods: Between 1999 and May 2005, 86 ductoscopies were completed in 71 patients with uni- or bilateral nipple discharge after excluding extramammary etiologies. Nipple discharge had been present in 76 breasts. Preoperative noninvasive and minimal-invasive tests were compared with ductoscopy and open biopsy results. In 71 ductoscopies, histological results were available for comparison. Histologic assessment revealed 13 benign lesions, 44 papillomas, five precursor lesions, six DCIS and three invasive carcinomas. Results: Breast duct endoscopy was successfully completed in all 86 cases, galactography in only 18 cases. Only mammography and duct sonography reached statistical significance with respect to detecting abnormal tissue. All techniques except MRI reached satisfactory sensitivities and specificities. Only duct sonography and ductoscopy had sensitivity values greater than 60%. Conclusions: Sonography and ductoscopy are similarly sensitive and specific for detecting intraductal lesions. A more precise assessment of ductoscopy will require further studies. In order to increase the detection rate of in-situ carcinomas, endoscopic techniques for obtaining intraductal biopsies should be improved and be used more frequently.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
