Cytologic studies of nipple discharges

Cytologic findings of nipple discharges from 71 histologically confirmed breast cases (29 malignant and 42 benign) were analyzed. Papillary clusters composed of more than 30 ductal cells were found in the discharges from 18 of the malignant cases (62%) and 6 of the benign cases (14%); all 6 benign cases with papillary clusters were papillomas. Erythrocytes were detected in the discharges from 15 of the malignant cases (52%) and 5 of the benign cases (12%); 4 of the 5 benign cases with bloody discharge were papillomas. Both erythrocytes and papillary clusters were observed in the discharges from 14 of the malignant cases (48%) and 2 of the benign cases (5%).