DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF GALACTOGRAPHY FOR NIPPLE DISCHARGE

In order to clarify the diagnostic differentiation between breast cancer and intraductal pappiloma, 58 patients with nipple discharge, who underwent contrast mammography (galactography) followed by histological examination, were retrospectively studied. The galactography findings were classified into the following five types: 1) an intraductal filling defect, 2) an intracystic filling defect, 3) an occlusion of the duct, 4) an occlusion of the duct and revisualization of the peripheral duct, 5) an occlusion, revisualization of the peripheral duct and extravasation into the breast parenchyma. A differential diagnosis between benign and malignancy was difficult in cases of type 1, 2 and 4. In cases of type 3, fine calcifications and tumor shadows were clues leading to the differential diagnosis. Type 5 had characteristic features of malignancy.It is clarified that galactography findings including an occlusion, revisualization of the peripheral duct and extravasation into the breast parenchyma strongly indicate a possible malignancy.