title: Nipple discharge after nipple-sparing mastectomy: should the areola complex always be removed?
abstract: Nipple discharge (ND) is a common symptom with a reported incidence of 2% to 5% of patients referred to breast cancer clinics. Approximately 90% of ND is of benign etiology. An underlying carcinoma is present with a rate of 6% to 21%. This is more frequent if it is associated with clinical or radiologic abnormality. ND after nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is a rare event as the whole retroareolar glandular tissue is usually completely removed with mastectomy. ND is otherwise possible if a small amount of tissue is accidentally left by the surgeon or with the aim of reducing the risk of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) necrosis. This condition can be of concern as it may imply a local recurrence and therefore implicate NAC removal. Herein we report a case of a ND in an NSM in which only a selective duct excision allowed NAC preservation.
authors: Breast Unit, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, Florence, Italy. lorenzo.orzalesi@unifi.it
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Orzalesi
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Aldrovandi
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Calabrese
authors: Donato
authors: D
authors: Casella
authors: Beniamino
authors: B
authors: Brancato
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Cataliotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008408:Mastectomy; D009558:Nipples / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*