The value of fiberoptic ductoscopy combined with cytology testing as a diagnostic procedure in women with nipple discharge

Fiberoptic ductoscopy system has been introduced as a diagnosing method for nipple discharge since the 1990s. As indicated by histological findings, the FDS results could be categorized into three major groups: 1) non-neoplastic changes, 2) papillary lesions, and 3) malignant-like lesions. FDS was much more reliable than mammography and sonography in diagnosis of non-palpable breast cancer associated with nipple discharge. Cytology testing is a good method to be used in conjunction with FDS. Microdochectomy is still a standard and definite diagnostic procedure for intraductal lesions found by FDS. However, FDS-guided endoscopic biopsy is promising to avoid erroneous sampling, especially for benign papillomas

Bibliographic reference:

Liu GY et al.: "Fiberoptic ductoscopy combined with cytology testing in the patients of spontaneous nipple discharge", Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007 May 2; [Epub ahead of print]

Guangyu Liu

Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital/Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China