The value of clinical characteristics and breast-imaging studies in predicting a histopathologic diagnosis of cancer or high-risk lesion in patients with spontaneous nipple discharge.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of breast-imaging studies in identifying cancer and high-risk lesions among patients with spontaneous, single-duct, nipple discharge (SSND).


METHODS
The medical records of 168 cases with SSND treated with duct excision between June 1998 and May 2004 were reviewed. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of mammogram, ultrasound, and ductogram in predicting high-risk lesions and cancer were calculated.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of mammography was 10%, the specificity 94%, the NPV 88%, and the PPV 18%. Ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 36%, specificity of 68%, PPV of 14%, and NPV of 89%. Ductography had a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 49%, and NPV and PPV of 93% and 18%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Conventional imaging studies do not accurately identify cancer or high-risk lesions in patients with SSND. All patients with SSND should be offered duct excision.
Adepoju
Linda J
LJ
State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Chun
Jennifer
J
El-Tamer
Mahmoud
M
Ditkoff
Beth-Ann
BA
Schnabel
Freya
F
Joseph
Kathie-Ann
KA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary