title: Does ultrasound-guided directional vacuum-assisted removal help eliminate abnormal nipple discharge in patients with benign intraductal single mass?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the removal of an intraductal mass using an ultrasound (US)-guided directional vacuum-assisted device can eliminate symptoms in patients presenting with abnormal nipple discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2004 and October 2006, 36 patients who presented with abnormal nipple discharge, underwent US-guided, 11-gauge vacuum-assisted biopsy for a benign intraductal single mass on US. The ability of the procedure to eliminate nipple discharge was evaluated by physical examination during follow-up US. Lesion characteristics, biopsy variables, and histologic features were analyzed to identify factors affecting symptom resolution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 36 lesions, 25 (69%) were intraductal papillomas, 10 (28%) were fibrocystic changes, and one (3%) was a fibroadenoma. The nipple discharge disappeared in 69% (25 of 36) of the women at a mean follow-up time of 25 months (range 12-42 month). There was no difference in the lesion characteristics, biopsy variables, and the histologic features between groups that eliminated the symptom compared those with persistent nipple discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US-guided directional vacuum-assisted removal of an intraductal mass appears to eliminate nipple discharge in only 69% of patients and thus, it should not be considered as an alternative to surgical excision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital and the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nariya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Woo Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jeong Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Se-Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Mijung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018300:Papilloma, Intraductal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D014618:Vacuum