title: Microdochectomy for single-duct pathologic nipple discharge and normal or benign imaging and cytology.
abstract: This study evaluates microdochectomy as a means for diagnosis and treatment of patients with pathological nipple discharge (PND) but with benign or normal imaging and cytology. From 1999 until 2006, in St. Mary's Hospital, 76 patients with the aforementioned condition underwent microdochectomy because of the presence of epithelial cells on nipple smear or for symptomatic relief. Most of the patients had intraductal papillomas (48.7%), duct ectasia (15.8%) or a combination of the two (13.2%). Other benign causes occurred in 11.8% of the patients. Eight patients, including one who was operated for symptomatic relief, had cancer. Of those patients with benign condition, 98% had symptomatic relief while PND recurred twice in one patient. Pre-operative workup and imaging may not be suspicious in patients with single-duct PND and underlying malignancy, therefore, microdochectomy should be considered in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Breast Care Unit, Mary Stanford Wing, 5th Floor, St. Mary's Hospital-NHS Trust, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK. drlanitis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sophocles
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanitis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippakis
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Thalis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Christofides
authors.forename: Ragheed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al Mufti
authors.forename: Dimitri J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hadjiminas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*