title: [Proliferative pathology of the mammary ducts. Diagnostic value of ductogalactography and cytologic correlations].
abstract: Three hundred and thirty-six patients with nipple discharge and neither physical signs at breast examination nor pathological findings at mammography, were observed from 1984 to 1988 and studied by means of ductogalactography and cytology of discharge. Of this group, 76 patients (22.6%) underwent surgery and histology. In 65/76 cases proliferative pathologic conditions were demonstrated: 51 single/multiple papillomas and 14 carcinomas. Ductogalactography suggested proliferative pathologic conditions in 59 cases and cytology of discharge showed blood in 44 patients, papillary clusters in 23, and atypical cells in 15 (both as single occurrences and in association). In cancer patients discharge appeared to be mostly spontaneous, monoductal and blood-stained. In papillomas, induced discharge was almost as frequent as spontaneous discharge, serous discharge was almost as frequent as blood-stained discharge, and milky discharge was also present. Ductogalactography confirmed its value in the diagnosis of proliferative pathologic conditions of the mammary ducts, being especially useful to detect carcinomas without palpable tumors. Cytology of discharge had poorer diagnostic significance.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Radiologia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010212:Papilloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography
vernacular_title: Patologia proliferativa dei dotti mammari. Valore diagnostico della duttogalattografia e correlazioni citologiche.