Unilateral bloody nipple discharge in a two-month-old male

Bloody nipple discharge as a benign, self-limiting disorder in young children: A systematic review including two related case reports

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Bloody nipple discharge (BND) is rare, distressing for parents, and presents a challenge for physicians.

METHODS

We used PubMed to search for cases of BND that were diagnosed before adolescence and added data from two of our cases.

RESULTS

The analyzed cohort comprised 46 patients (28 boys and 18 girls; mean [SD] age, 12.5±13.3months; range, 20days to 4years). The mean time for spontaneous resolution was 2.8±2.4months (range, 1week to 8months) after onset of BND without any intervention. The diagnosis was mammary ductal ectasia (MDE) in 15 patients, gynecomastia with MDE in two patients, hemorrhagic cysts in two patients, and gynecomastia alone in one patient. The majority (89.3%) of patients <1year old were managed conservatively, but half of them aged >1year (50.0%) underwent surgery. Surgery was performed more often in patients in whom a mass had been identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Age and findings at physical examination affect selection of treatment, but not sex. We found no reported cases of malignancy. Symptoms in children who are managed conservatively resolve within 10months. Children with BND should be conservatively managed to avoid the risk of developing breast deformities before adolescence.

[Mammary duct ectasia in children: A case report]

INTRODUCTION

Bloody nipple discharge is an infrequent symptom during childhood. The most common cause in this population is mammary duct ectasia (MDE), which is a benign and self-limiting condition, that is characterized by dilatation of the mammary ducts, fibrosis and periductal inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

Report of a case of MDE in order to improve physicians' diagnosis accuracy and avoid aggressive studies and treatments.

CASE REPORT

Six-months old male healthy infant, exclusively breastfeeded, that visited our clinic with a lump beneath his right nipple and bloody discharge from the same nipple. An ultrasound was performed which showed a multicystic lesion suggestive of MDE. Watchful waiting was decided as treatment, with good evolution after six months of follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

The MDE is the leading cause of bloody discharge in pediatric population, being a benign condition that resolves spontaneously before nine months. The knowledge of this condition is essential so as to accurately diagnose and treat it.

Bloody nipple discharge in infancy: a case report and recommendations for management

We report a 5-month-old male infant with benign unilateral bloody nipple discharge, and we present a brief review of 20 previously described cases of bloody nipple discharge in infancy. On the basis of our case and previous reports, we offer recommendations for the management of the bloody nipple discharge in the first year of life: (1) diagnosis should be based on noninvasive diagnostic procedures, in the absence of dubious ultrasound or cytological diagnostic findings; (2) the condition resolves spontaneously, and surgical intervention should be avoided; (3) manipulation of the nipple can prolong the bleeding; (4) antibiotics should be given only in the presence of clear clinical and cytological signs of infection; and (5) parent reassurance is an important part of infantile bloody nipple discharge management.

Bloody nipple discharge in 2 infants with interesting cytologic findings of extramedullary hematopoiesis and hemophagocytosis

Bloody nipple discharge in the infantile period is an uncommon finding. Despite its stressful course to the parents, it is generally a benign condition with a spontaneous resolution. The approach to bloody nipple discharge in the infantile period is well documented in the literature even though the number of these cases is limited. We report 2 infants with unilateral bloody nipple discharge. Their physical examination, laboratory, and ultrasound findings were normal but the cytologic examinations of the discharge revealed signs of extramedullary hematopoiesis and hemophagocytosis. These extraordinary findings made us brainstorm on the probable ongoing processes in the infantile breast tissue.

Mammary duct ectasia in children: report of a short series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Mammary duct ectasia is uncommon in children, and is usually considered to be an acquired disease in adults. However the occurrence in infants and children suggest it may be developmental.

AIMS

To report a case series of mammary duct ectasia, and review the published literature to ascertain the common findings and histological findings in children.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series report and review of the literature.

RESULTS

We report three cases of mammary duct ectasia, an unusual disease in children. The most common presenting features are a bloody nipple discharge; there may also be a palpable mass or general breast enlargement. Two patients in this series presented with large masses simulating other conditions. Summary of all reported cases in children found that symptoms can arise from infancy, but is most common around the age of 3 years (range 2 months to 13 years), with a 5:2 male:female ratio. Histology centres on peri-ductal inflammation and dilation. Haemosiderin laden macrophages were seen commonly in this series; and may represent a histological marker in children. The disease is often self-limiting. Patients may require surgery for persistent nipple discharge or lump.

CONCLUSIONS

Duct ectasia should be entertained in small infants and children presenting with both small and large peri-areolar breast masses and/or bleeding. The occurrence of the disease in infants suggests that mammary duct ectasia may represent a developmental anomaly in the paediatric population.

Bloody nipple discharge in an infant

Although milky nipple discharge appears frequently in infants, bloody nipple discharge is a very rare finding. We experienced a 4-month-old, breast-fed infant who showed bilateral bloody nipple discharge with no signs of infection, engorgement, or hypertrophy. The infant's hormonal examination and coagulation tests were normal, and an ultrasound examination revealed mammary duct ectasia. The symptoms resolved spontaneously within 6 weeks without any specific treatment, except that we advised the mother to refrain from taking herbal medicine. Since no such case has been previously reported in Korea, we present this case with a brief review of the literature.

Bloody nipple discharge in an adolescent girl: unusual presentation of juvenile fibroadenoma

Fibroadenoma accounts for 50-60% of all breast mass lesions in adolescents. It usually presents as a unilateral palpable breast mass. In contrast, bloody nipple discharge rarely occurs in childhood. We report the case of a 12-year-old pubertal girl who presented with a solitary breast mass and bloody nipple discharge. Physical examination and ultrasound showed a right breast subareolar homogenous mass, about 2.5 cm in diameter, near the lactiferous duct. Histologic diagnosis of the mass revealed a juvenile fibroadenoma with infarction and hemorrhage. The unusual clinical presentation and possible etiology in this patient is described, and the proper management of bloody nipple discharge in pediatric patients is discussed in association with a literature review.