BREAST-TUMORS ASSOCIATED WITH NIPPLE DISCHARGE - CORRELATION OF FINDINGS ON GALACTOGRAPHY AND SONOGRAPHY

To compare the specific information provided by ultrasound (US) and ga lactography and to appreciate the clinical applicability of US as a pr imary diagnostic method for breast tumors associated with nipple disch arge, a comparative study of each method in 15 patients with ductal tu mors of the breast was performed, To evaluate the smallest anatomical unit of the lactiferous system demonstrable by US, 30 patients with no rmal lactating breasts were examined prospectively. The smallest anato mical ductal unit that could be evaluated with US in the normal lactat ing breast was the terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU), US is superior t o galactography in detecting masses smaller than 0.5 cm or lesions inv olving multiple ducts, Galactography is better for visualizing the duc t system and detecting calcification. In conclusion, US serves as a pr imary noninvasive diagnostic tool in patients with clinically suspicio us breast tumor associated with bloody nipple discharge, but galactogr aphy also should be done in specific circumstances.