The significance of nipple discharge: diagnosis and treatment regimes

Breast cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases affecting women and is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality. Any breast complaint has the potential for creating a great deal of anxiety for patients and providers alike. An in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of common breast complaints, particularly those with low probability of association with cancer such as nipple discharge, can serve to allay anxiety and prevent the financial and emotional burden of unnecessary diagnostic evaluations. It will then improve the quality of care for each patient experiencing the symptom. Although the greatest incidence of nipple discharge is not secondary to malignant processes, the fact that some are requires that all persons with nipple discharge receive the benefit of a thorough assessment. When planning a course of action to assess and treat nipple discharge, a thoughtful stepwise, planned approach is necessary. The evaluation of nipple discharge can be undertaken with minimal difficulty by performing a thorough history, a careful physical examination, and following a logical thought process in linking the type of discharge with the suitable adjunct diagnostic testing. Appropriate management evolves from this process. It is important to view the patient in total, considering such issues as family history, other risk factors, how disruptive the level of anxiety about the symptom. Primary care providers, working with their parents, are well positioned to design appropriate diagnostic and treatment regimes to assess and treat nipple discharge. A thoughtful, prudent approach to this symptom can save both health care dollars and lives.