Purpose
Nipple discharge(ND) is one of the most commonly reported complaints related to the breast for which women seek advice from physicians [1]. The vast majority of these reported cases are of benign origin [2]. Clinically, ND can be classified either as physiologic or pathologic (pND). Clinical characteristics of pathologic and physiologic nipple discharge are listed in Table 1.
pND is often described as being unilateral, bloody or serous, persistent, spontaneous, associated with a mass and arising from a single duct [3-5]. Unlike physiologic ND, clinical...
Methods and materials
This study included 53 patients with ND. All patients underwent DBT and results were compared to MMG, breast US and MRI. MMG, DBT, US, and MRI findings were classified according to BI-RADS classification, where categories 3-5 were considered positive and 1-2 negative. The final diagnosis was established based on histopathological results if a tissue specimen was obtained; otherwise, a clinical follow-up was required for at least two years to confirm the benign radiological findings. The diagnostic accuracy of DBT, MMG, US, and MRI for the...
Results
The mean age of the patients was 54 years (range, 31-84 years). Final histopathological analysis revealed five malignant breast lesions, all of which were observed in patients with pathologic ND accounting for 12.5% of all patients with pathologic ND. DBT and MRI showed high sensitivity (100%) and high NPV (100%) for the detection of breast carcinoma in patients with ND. DBT showed greater specificity in comparison to MRI (82.9% vs. 61.9%). MMG in the diagnosis of breast carcinoma was determined to have a sensitivity of...
Conclusion
DBT showed greater specificity than MRI at the same level of sensitivity and NPV. Thus, it should be considered as an alternative to MRI in the evaluation of patients with ND.
Personal information and conflict of interest
L. Kovačević; Zagreb/HR - nothing to disclose
S. Barsic Ostojic; Zagreb/HR - nothing to disclose
L. Korsa; Zagreb/HR - nothing to disclose
Z. Marusic; Zagreb/HR - nothing to disclose
M. Prutki; Zagreb/HR - nothing to disclose
References
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2. Simmons R, Adamovich T, Brennan M, Christos P, Schultz M, Eisen C, et al. Nonsurgical Evaluation of Pathologic Nipple Discharge. Ann Surg Oncol. 2003 Mar;10(2):113–6.
3. Mazzarello S, Arnaout A. Nipple discharge. CMAJ Can Med Assoc J J Assoc Medicale Can. 2015 May 19;187(8):599.
4. Patel BK, Falcon S, Drukteinis J. Management of nipple discharge and the associated imaging findings. Am J Med. 2015 Apr;128(4):353–60.
5. Lang JE, Kuerer...