Microdochectomy in women aged over 50 years

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology
• Breast Imaging

Background:

• Spontaneous single duct nipple discharge without a palpable mass or abnormal mammogram presents a diagnostic challenge.
• The optimal management strategy for such cases remains a subject of clinical debate.
• Understanding the pathological outcomes of interventions is crucial for guiding treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the pathological findings in women undergoing microdochectomy for spontaneous single duct nipple discharge.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of microdochectomy as a treatment modality.
• To compare pathological results across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 52 women treated with microdochectomy for single duct nipple discharge.
• Inclusion criteria: spontaneous discharge, no associated mass, normal mammography.
• Pathological examination of excised tissue to determine the underlying diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Malignant or premalignant lesions were detected in 1 patient under 50 and 2 patients over 50 years of age.
• Papilloma was the most frequent diagnosis, identified in 60% of patients under 50 and 73% of patients aged 50 or older.
• Microdochectomy yielded definitive pathological diagnoses in all cases.

Conclusions:

• Microdochectomy is a safe and effective procedure for diagnosing and treating spontaneous single duct nipple discharge.
• The study supports the use of microdochectomy, particularly in women over 50 years of age.
• Papillary lesions are the predominant finding, necessitating thorough pathological evaluation.