Clinical application of breast fiberoptic ductoscopy in 354 cases with abnormal nipple discharge

Objective To use the breast duct endoscope for studying the pathological characteristics of breast-duct disease with nipple discharge, and offer methods that can improve diagnostic accuracy. Methods A total of 354 patients with nipple discharge were examined using the fiberoptic duct’ endoscope (FVS -3000M). Ducts and their branches were investigated to define and locate the extent of intraductal lesions. Core biopsies were taken of suspicious lesions and the findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results In cases of bloody and serosanguineous nipple discharge, 72.3% were papilloma and papillomatosis, 5.2% duct cancer and 22.5% mammary duct ectasia and galactophoritis. In patients with watery nipple discharge, 56.0% were papilloma and papillomatosis, 8.0% were breast cancer and 5 patients without abnormal findings were regarded as normal. Conclusion Fiberoptic duct endoscopy can accurately locate the site and pathology of nipple discharge allowing the improvement in diagnosis of early breast cancer.