Patient's question:
Hello doctor, I am 32 years old. Two weeks ago, I noticed that one of my breasts had started to secrete fluid, and the entire breast felt a bit swollen. I had a check-up at a local hospital, and the doctor said it was a papilloma and recommended surgery. But I am still a bit worried. What exactly is the cause of nipple discharge?Doctor's answer:
Hello, nipple discharge can be divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological nipple discharge is mainly seen in pregnant and lactating women. Pathological nipple discharge refers to breast duct secretion under non-physiological conditions. The type commonly referred to is the latter. Nipple discharge can be caused by various breast diseases.(1) Nipple discharge can be classified based on its physical characteristics, including bloody, serous, serous-purulent, watery, purulent, and milk-like discharges.
(2) The etiology of nipple discharge is mainly divided into extramammary factors and intramammary factors. In breast cancer patients, 5% to 10% experience nipple discharge, but only 1% present with nipple discharge as a symptom. Breast cancer originating in large ducts or classified as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is more commonly associated with nipple discharge, such as cases of malignant transformation of intraductal papillomas or papillary eczematoid carcinoma. However, recent studies have shown that nipple discharge is an early clinical manifestation of certain breast cancers, particularly DCIS, and can exist alone even before a palpable mass forms.