ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Such methods used in the evaluation of nipple discharge as mammography, ultrasonograpyh, galactography or cytology, may be insuffi cient in the diagnosis and localization of the lesions because of high false negative and false positive results. With ductoscopy, intraductal pathologies can be directly visualized, cytological examinations and biopsies can be easily performed endoscopically. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and discuss the value of ductoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pathologic nipple discharge.

Materials and Methods:

From November 2005 to September 2007, we performed ductoscopy and ductoscopy assisted ductal lavage to 111 patients, all female, suff ering from nipple discharge by using LaDuScope S and LaDuScope T-fl ex.

Results:

We detected, ductoscopically, intraductal polypoid lesions in 24 patients, intraductal debris in 8 patients, DCIS in 1 patient. 18 out of 24 intraductal polypoid lesions could be excised endoscopically and the rest underwent ductoscopically assisted microductectomy.

Conclusion:

Ductoscopy is not performed at every center. Also there is no accepted consensus on the interpretations of the results of ductoscopy. But, since it provides the unique advantage of intraductal direct visualization of the lesions, and has the advantage of being a therapeutic tool, we believe that ductoscopy will be most useful instrument in the near future for the evaluation of nipple discharge.