[Ductoscopy for pathologic nipple discharge]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Pathologic nipple discharge is a common clinical presentation in women.
• Benign intraductal lesions are the most frequent cause of nipple discharge.
• Traditional diagnostic and treatment options were often invasive, including surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce breast ductoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for pathologic nipple discharge.
• To highlight the advantages of ductoscopy over traditional surgical methods.
• To address the challenges in the advancement of ductoscopic technology.

Main Methods:

• Breast ductoscopy, a micro-endoscopic procedure, allows direct visualization of the ductal system.
• Abnormalities within the ducts can be identified and targeted.
• Tissue biopsy for histopathological examination can be obtained during the procedure.

Main Results:

• Breast ductoscopy enables direct visualization of intraductal abnormalities.
• It facilitates targeted tissue retrieval for diagnosis.
• The procedure allows for in-situ treatment, potentially avoiding surgery.

Conclusions:

• Breast ductoscopy provides a minimally invasive alternative for diagnosing and treating pathologic nipple discharge.
• This technique can prevent patients from undergoing unnecessary invasive procedures.
• Further development of ductoscopes is needed to overcome challenges related to the small duct dimensions.