Preoperative galactography increases the diagnostic yield of major duct excision for nipple discharge

Galactography is not an obsolete investigation in the evaluation of pathological nipple discharge

Purpose

To evaluate the malignancy rate and diagnostic performance of galactography in patients with pathological nipple discharge (PND) after negative clinical breast examination, mammography and ultrasound.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated all galactograms obtained between January 2006 and December 2014 in women with PND. Galactographic findings were classified into 6 groups according to a modified Galactogram Image Classification system (GICS) to comply with the breast imaging reporting and data system classification. Observers were blinded to the final histology and clinical outcome at the time of analysis. MRI was performed as a problem solving ancillary examination. Imaging findings, pathological diagnosis and follow-up data were evaluated. The diagnostic performance of MRI and technically successful galactography in the detection of neoplastic or risk lesions were separately calculated.

Results

A total of 146 patients with PND (mean age, 51.5 years; range, 17–93) were examined. Malignant lesions were detected in only 4 patients (2.7%) and risk-lesions in 5 patients (3.4%). Only one low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ was missed by galactography (GICS 1) and MRI. MRI examinations were performed in 21 (14.4%) patients; one of these patients (4.8%) had a malignant finding (GICS 0), two (9.5%) had risk-lesions (GICS 2 and 5). In the detection of neoplastic or risk lesions the sensitivity and specificity of galactography were 77.4% and 75.7% and of MRI 85.7% and 71.4%, consecutively.

Conclusion

The malignancy rate is negligible if clinical, mammography, ultrasound and galactography examinations are negative. Galactography remains a practical, valuable and cost-effective examination procedure. If galactography is technically unsuccessful, MRI should be considered as an additional ancillary tool to evaluate the possible etiology of symptoms, but the routine use of MRI in all patients cannot be justified.

Breast MRI in patients with unilateral bloody and serous-bloody nipple discharge: a comparison with galactography

Purpose. Assessing the role of breast MRI compared to galactography in patients with unilateral bloody or serous-bloody nipple discharge. Materials and Methods. Retrospective study including 53 unilateral discharge patients who performed galactography and MRI. We evaluated the capability of both techniques in identifying pathology and distinguishing between nonmalignant and malignant lesions. Lesions BIRADS 1/2 underwent follow-up, while the histological examination after surgery has been the gold standard to assess pathology in lesions BIRADS 3/4/5. The ROC analysis was used to test diagnostic MRI and galactography ability. Results. After surgery and follow-up, 8 patients had no disease (15%), 23 papilloma (43%), 11 papillomatosis (21%), 5 ductal cancer in situ (10%), and 6 papillary carcinoma (11%) diagnoses. Both techniques presented 100% specificity; MRI sensitivity was 98% versus 49% of galactography. Considering MRI, we found a statistical association between mass enhancement and papilloma (P < 0.001; AUC 0.957; CI 0.888–1.025), ductal enhancement and papillomatosis (P < 0.001; AUC 0.790; CI 0.623–0.958), segmental enhancement and ductal cancer in situ (P = 0.007; AUC 0.750; CI 0.429–1.071), and linear enhancement and papillary cancer (P = 0.011). Conclusions. MRI is a valid tool to detect ductal pathologies in patients with suspicious bloody or serous-bloody discharge showing higher sensitivity and specificity compared to galactography.

Role of galactography in the early diagnosis of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of galactography (GL) in the early diagnosis of breast cancer in patients with pathologic nipple discharge (PND).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied all galactograms obtained in 117 women with PND, who subsequently had a biopsy. The findings detected in the galactograms of the patients in this study were assigned to different categories of the Galactogram Image Classification System (GICS): GICS 2, benign; GICS 3, probably benign; GICS 4, suspicious for malignancy; and GICS 5, highly suspicious for malignancy.

RESULTS

The galactograms were classified into GICS 2 (29 cases; 24.7%), GICS 3 (42 cases; 35.8%), GICS 4 (30 cases; 25.6%), and GICS 5 (16 cases; 13.6%). A good correlation was observed between histological diagnosis and GICS categories (p < 0.05). All cases diagnosed with carcinoma (n = 18) were classified in GICS categories 4-5: ductal carcinoma in situ in 14 cases (11.9%) and invasive carcinoma in 4 cases (3.4%).

CONCLUSION

GL is a useful procedure in the early diagnosis of breast cancer in patients with PND.

Can galactography-guided stereotactic, 11-gauge, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy of intraductal lesions serve as an alternative to surgical biopsy?

The purpose of this study was to determine the value of galactography-guided, stereotactic, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) for the assessment of intraductal breast lesions and its potential as a therapeutic tool that could eliminate the need for surgical excision. Eighteen patients (median age 64 years, range 37-80) with nipple discharge and galactography-verified intraductal lesions underwent galactography-guided, stereotactic, 11-gauge VABB followed by surgery. Histopathology findings from VABB and subsequent surgery were compared. Underestimation and false-negative rates were assessed. After VABB, histopathology revealed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in three (17%), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in six (33%), high-risk lesions in six (33%) and benign lesions in three (17%) cases. After surgical biopsy, histopathology confirmed the previously established diagnosis in 11 lesions (61%). The underestimation rate for high-risk lesions and DCIS was 50% (6/12). The false-negative rate was 7% (1/14). Histopathology examination after surgery showed that not a single lesion had been completely removed at VABB. Galactography-guided VABB is a feasible diagnostic tool. However, its value as a therapeutic procedure is limited because of the high number of underestimated and missed lesions and because of the histopathological detection of lesions' remnants in every case. Surgical excision should be the therapeutic gold standard in cases of pathological nipple discharge and galactography abnormalities.

Selective microdochectomy after ductoscopic wire marking in women with pathological nipple discharge

Background

To investigate the diagnostic reliability of selective microdochectomy after direct ductoscopic wire marking of suspect lesions in patients with pathological nipple discharge.

Methods

Selective microdochectomy due to pathological discharge was performed in 33 patients with mean age of 51.7 years. Ductoscopes of 0.9 and 1.1 mm in diameter with a channel for wire marking were used. Only patients without sonographic or mammographic correlation for the discharge were included. The pathologic mammary duct was wire marked and extirpated under direct visual guidance via the ductoscope. The histological results were compared with cytology, galactography and ductoscopy.

Results

In 24 out of 33 cases (72%) an intraductal, epithelial proliferation was found histologically. The following sensitivities for intraductal, epithelial proliferations could be determined: cytology 4%, galactography 74%, and ductoscopy 78%.

Conclusion

The method allows selective microdochectomy of the pathological duct and the intraductal proliferation under visual guidance. The resection volume can be reduced in contrast to the unselective ductectomy after injection of methylene blue.

The role of major duct excision and microdochectomy in the detection of breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The association of nipple discharge with breast carcinoma has resulted in numerous women undergoing exploratory surgery to exclude malignancy. The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-operative factors can identify those patients that are most at risk of carcinoma.

METHODS

All patients over a 14-year period (1991-2005) who had a microdochectomy or subareolar exploration for the evaluation of nipple discharge were assessed. Patient characteristics, pre-operative imaging and pathological findings were analysed.

RESULTS

Of the 211 patients included in this study, 116 patients had pathological (unilateral, uniductal serous or bloody) discharge. On excision, 6% (n = 7) of patients with pathological discharge and 2.4% (n = 2) of patients with non-pathological discharge were diagnosed with carcinoma. Overall, major duct excision resulted in the diagnosis of carcinoma in 4.3% (n = 9), ADH/LCIS in 4% (n = 8), papilloma in 39% (n = 83), and duct ectasia or non-specific benign disease in 53% (n = 111) of patients. In the patients determined to have malignancy, 44% (n = 4) were premenopausal. No patient with a non-bloody discharge in the total population analysed (28%; n = 59/211), or in the population with a pathological discharge (21%; n = 24/116) was found to have carcinoma upon excision.

CONCLUSION

Microdochectomy or major duct excision performed for nipple discharge resulted in a low rate of malignancy on excision. Conservative management of non-bloody nipple discharge can be considered in patients with no other clinical or radiological signs of malignancy.

Galactography in patients with nipple discharge

Nipple discharge is a common presenting symptom of underlying breast pathology. This study examined the impact of galactography on the evaluation of abnormal nipple discharge. Thirty-five women with spontaneous, unilateral nipple discharge who underwent galactography from 1995 to 1997 were retrospectively studied. Their presenting signs as well as mammographic, galactographic, and pathology findings were evaluated. Nipple discharge was bloody (n = 24), clear (n = 7), or serous (n = 4). A palpable mass was found in 5 patients, and discharge was spontaneous in 29 patients (83%). Mammography was normal in 25 patients (71%). Thirty patients (86%) had an abnormal ductogram that was characterized as a filling defect (n = 20), cutoff sign (n = 5), or ductal dilatation (n = 5). The ductogram demonstrated the location and depth of the lesion in 29 patients (97%). Excision was performed in 27 of 30 patients with an abnormal ductogram: 14 received complete subareolar duct excisions; 12, focused excisions; and 1, excision with a vacuum-assisted biopsy device. Pathology included intraductal papilloma (n = 20) and ductal ectasia (n = 7). Follow-up was completed in 24 patients, including 2 postoperative patients who had persistent discharge on manipulation. In conclusion, galactography is accurate in identifying the location of the ductal abnormality. It allows a focused surgical approach to the pathologic lesion in these patients.

A comparison of ductoscopy-guided and conventional surgical excision in women with spontaneous nipple discharge

INTRODUCTION

Radiologic imaging is routinely used to evaluate women with spontaneous nipple discharge (SND), but definitive diagnosis is usually only achieved by surgical terminal duct excision (TDE). Ductoscopy has been reported to result in improved localization of intraductal lesions and may avoid surgery in women with endoscopically normal ducts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of the records of 117 consecutive women who underwent ductoscopy to guide ductal excision (scope-DE) or received conventional TDE without ductoscopy. Two women had atypical ductal lavage cytology and the remainder presented with SND from 1 or more duct. Preoperative evaluation included radiologic imaging as clinically indicated.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine women underwent scope-DE, and 58 underwent conventional TDE. There were no significant differences in age, race, discharge characteristics, or radiologic findings. The proportion of women with intraductal neoplasia was slightly greater in the group undergoing scope-DE (88% vs. 81%, P = 0.2). In the conventional TDE group, 8.5% were found to have atypical hyperplasia or duct carcinoma in situ compared with 18.6% in the scope-DE group. In the ductoscopy group, 22 of 59 (37.3%) had lesions >5 cm from the nipple, compared with 1 of 17 women for whom distance of the lesion from the nipple was known in the conventional group (P = 0.02). Of the ductoscopy-detected cancers, 5 of 6 had no symptoms other than SND, whereas 1 of the 4 malignancies in the conventional group presented as SND alone.

DISCUSSIONS

Ductoscopy identifies intraductal lesions in a high proportion of women with SND, and it may contribute to more accurate resection of these. A prospective study is required to obtain an unbiased assessment of these possible advantages.

Galactography: an important and highly effective procedure

Galactography should only be performed if there is spontaneous bloody or serous discharge from a single lactiferous duct of one breast. If this is observed, only pathologic processes instead of normal breast tissue are removed upon surgery and there is a close correlation between radiologic results and pathologic findings. Galactography localizes intraductal pathologic processes precisely and thus contributes to minimal volume surgery.