Galactography. Reevaluation of a forgotten method

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of galactography in detecting intraductal lesions. The second request was to check the ability of galactography in determinin g a specific (histological) diagnosis. Methods: In this retrospective study 207 galactograms in 173 patients with unilateral or bilateral nipple discharge were evaluated. 105 cases were con trolled by a follow-up of at least 3 years (group 1). 102 galactograms coul d be correlated with postoperative histology (group 2). Results: Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of both groups yielded value s of 95 %, 87 % and 90 % respectively. Solitary papillomas and multiple pap illomas were correctly diagnosed by galactography in 18/28 and 15/19 cases. In 9/12 cases the diagnosis of a ductal carcinoma could be correctly made. Conclusions: Galactography is able to detect or exclude an intraductal lesi on with high accuracy. However, the method cannot provide exact information on the (histological) diagnosis of intraductal lesions. All these lesions have still to be operated upon. The data presented here seem to strengthen the role of galactography in the imaging work-up of breast disease, especia lly in case of nipple discharge. New methods like ductal sonography and MRI still have to prove their value concerning this disease.