Nipple Discharge Screening

Abstract

Nipple discharge is a common complaint among women. It is classified as normal or abnormal depending on features such as laterality, cycle variation, quantity, color or presentation (i.e., induced vs spontaneous). It can be related to benign conditions, such as intraductal papilloma, duct ectasia, plasma cell mastitis or galactorrhea; or to malignant conditions such as ductal, lobular or papillary carcinoma. Techniques used in nipple discharge evaluation include mammography, ultrasound, cytology (which could be assisted by a mammary pump), duct endoscopy, ductography, immunochemical methods and at least surgical excision of the pathological ducts for diagnosis and treatment in the same procedure.