Nipple discharge and abnormal galactogram. Results of a long-term study (1964–1990)

Galactography in Patients with Nipple Discharge

“…Solitary or multiple papillomas are the most common cause of nipple discharge reported (35%-62%) (1,4,5,9,(16)(17)(18)(19); in our study, they accounted for 74% of the cases. Papillomas, although benign, are associated with a 5% risk of developing into invasive carcinoma (20).…”

“…Abnormal nipple discharge is associated with an underlying malignancy in 1.2% to 15% of patients (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Abnormal discharge is defined as nonlactational, persistent, spontaneous, and unilateral (6).…”

“…Characteristics of a benign source include a milky, bilateral discharge, which does not require further follow-up. The discharge is due to an underlying malignant lesion, however, in up to 15% of cases (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Discharge from a malignant source is spontaneous, unilateral, persistent, and nonlactational (6).…”

Surgical approach to nipple discharge: A ten‐year experience

“…In these cases, the major concern is a careful diagnosis to exclude a carcinoma. Although some authors have correlated the type of discharge with the nature of the breast lesion-differentiating between yellow, serosanguinous, bloody, and clear secretion [3,9]-several studies, including the present one, did not find such correlation [7,[10][11][12].…”

“…A number of authors [3,12,17,18] have postulated that galactography can be the diagnostic procedure of choice in patients with nipple discharge.…”