EVALUATION OF GALACTOGRAPHY FOR NIPPLE DISCHARGE

Galactography is useful in the evaluation of spontaneous discharge fro m the nipple of a nonlactating breast. Without galactography, surgeons have relied on either masectomy or excision of the major duct system responsible for the discharge. From January 1989 to May 1996, 106 gala ctograms were performed with monofilament polypropylene suture guiding for duct cannulation in 105 cases. The discharge duct was identified by pre-operative galactography, followed by a selective excision of du ctal-lobular unit. In all tissue specimens, the cause of the pathologi c secretion was found histologically; most often, it was intraductal p apilloma (42.6%). in 35.6% of the specimens, findings with a prospecti ve significance (papillomatosis, hyperplasia, carcinoma) were discover ed and further operative treatment was initiated. The color of the dis charge allowed no prediction of the histological findings. The accurac y of galactography was 88.4%, 84.6%, and 77.4% in papilloma, cancer, a nd other benign lesions, respectively It is better than physical exami nation and other tests. Galactography represents a useful test in the diagnostic workup of secretory breasts. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 199 8.