Diagnostic and therapeutic value of fiberoptic ductoscopy in nipple discharge

Abstract

Objective To study the diagnostic and therapeutic value of fiberoptic ductoscopy (FDS) in nipple discharge. Methods The clinical data of three hundred cases with nipple discharge from Subei People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province from August 2012 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The rates of tumor detection by FDS were significantly higher of bloody and serous nipple discharge (80.0%, 52.2%) than milky and watery nipple discharge (4.0%, 3.2%). For patients with breast inflammatory nipple discharge, local drug douching via FDS was an effective treatment. The diagnostic rate of localization via FDS was significantly higher than that of breast duct infusion of methylene blue (95.0% vs 87.5%, χ2=1.834, P=0.176). Conclusions FDS is an accurate method for diagnosing patients with nipple discharge. In addition, it is also good local drug douching method for patients with breast inflammatory nipple discharge. For patients with tumorous nipple discharge, localization via FDS can help improve the detection of the lesions, which can be removed by surgery. Key words: Papilloma; Breast diseases; Fiberoptic ductoscopy