Ductal lavage in the high-risk patient.
BACKGROUND
[corrected] This analysis was conducted in a single-surgeon clinical practice to evaluate the utility and practicality of performing ductal lavage in a population determined to be at high risk for breast cancer.


METHODS
One hundred twenty patients with negative mammograms and/or negative breast examinations had nipple aspiration and ductal lavage performed by a single surgeon. All were at high risk either according to Gail risk score, a previous breast carcinoma, or nipple discharge.


RESULTS
One hundred twenty patients underwent nipple aspiration. Thirty-two did not undergo lavage: 29 had no fluid, and 3 had unsuccessful cannulation. Eighty-eight underwent lavage: 15 had insufficient epithelial content, 51 had benign cytology, and 22 had abnormal cells. Of the 22, 20 had mild atypia, 1 had marked atypia, and 1 had malignant cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Ductal lavage can be done in a surgical practice and can stratify risk for the individual patient. This is important to both patient and surgeon in formulating a treatment plan based on objective cytologic criteria.
Francescatti
Darius S
DS
Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. darius_s_francescatti@rush.edu
Kluskens
Larry
L
Shah
Lisa
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013396:Suction; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation