Jun Ho Park, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Young Mi Park MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Suk Jung Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyun Kyung Jung, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ji-Hwa Ryu, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sun Joo Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hye Jung Choo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Young Jun Cho, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of breast ultrasonography (US) for the evaluation of pathologic nipple discharge, as compared with galactography.

117 cases in 105 patients (all women; mean, 43.2 years; range, 20 - 76years) with pathologic nipple discharge were enrolled in this study, who had underwent US and galactography between 2004 and 2012. Eighty three cases were pathologically proved by surgical excision (n=66), or US-guided core needle biopsy (n=17), and the remaining cases were followed up for mean 24 months by US and mammography. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed and compared US and galactography images with regard to detectability of lesion and evaluation of disease extent.

The lesions were depicted at galactography in 98 cases (83.8%), at US in 96 cases (82.1%) and both examinations in 85 cases (72.6%). Eight cases (6.8%) showed poor visualization of lesions at both examinations. The lesions were depicted at galatography only in 13 cases (11.1%) and US only in 11 cases (9.4%), of which galactograms were negative (n=1), only ductal dilatations (n=3), or failure of procedure (n=7). In 85 cases which abnormalities were visualized at both examinations, the evaluation of lesion extent was superior at US in 19 cases and superior at galactogram in 12 cases. Of 117 cases, US was superior or equal to galactography in 88 cases (75.2%) with respect to detection of lesion and extent evaluation. Galactography was superior or equal to US in 57 cases (48.7%).

Breast US is useful to detect the causes of pathologic nipple discharge and to evaluate the lesion extent exactly. Therefore, in the evaluation of patients with pathologic nipple discharge, we suggest that galactography may be skipped if the lesion is well detected at US.

Galactography may be skipped in the evaluation of patients with pathologic nipple discharge if the lesion is well detected at ultrasonography.

Park, J, Park, Y, Kim, S, Jung, H, Ryu, J, Lee, S, Choo, H, Cho, Y, Diagnostic Usefulness of Breast Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of the Patients with Pathologic Nipple Discharge: Comparison with Galactography.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13044449.html