title: The diagnostic value of testing for occult blood.
abstract: An analysis of 270 patients undergoing microdochectomy for nipple discharge from a single identifiable duct, and without an associated lump, revealed that occult cancers were all accompanied by hemoglobin positive discharge. A simple method of detecting the presence of hemoglobin in the discharge is described. The incidence of cancer was found to be 5.9%. In order of frequency, intraduct papilloma, duct ectasia, cystic disease, and carcinoma accounted for over 90% of the cases. Six patients in whom no malignancy was seen in the microdochectomy specimen subsequently developed cancer in the ipsilateral breast. A close follow-up of all patients with hemoglobin positive discharge and in whom no cause for the discharge is demonstrated at microdochectomy is stressed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins