Patient's question:
Main symptoms: Milk flow is excessive and often leaks out on its ownOnset time: September 6
Laboratory test results:
Doctor's answer:
Hello, carefully observe and identify the characteristics of nipple discharge, as this is of great significance for finding the cause of the discharge. Generally speaking, milk-like discharge is often bilateral, multiple-hole, and self-expelling during non-lactation, with a color and texture similar to skim milk. It is usually caused by hypothalamic dysfunction and abnormally elevated prolactin levels in the blood. Serous discharge is often squeezed out, but in a few cases, it can also be self-expelling, frequently staining clothes. It can be unilateral or bilateral, with the discharge being thin, transparent, slightly yellow, brownish, or viscous. It is mostly caused by benign breast diseases, such as hyperplasia of the breast, dilated breast duct syndrome, and intraductal papilloma. A small number of serous discharges can be caused by breast cancer. Watery discharge is often unilateral, with the discharge being thin and colorless, like water. It is often caused by tumors, and some scholars point out that about 50% of watery discharges may be cancerous. Purulent discharge is often unilateral, self-expelling or squeezed out, usually green or creamy yellow, thick, purulent, and may contain blood. It is more common in inflammatory breast diseases, such as dilated breast duct syndrome. Hemorrhagic discharge is often unilateral, self-expelling or squeezed out, with the discharge being bright red, pale red, light brown, or coffee-colored. It is mostly caused by intraductal papilloma but can also be seen in breast cancer, hyperplasia of the breast, or dilated breast duct syndrome. Since malignant tumors are more likely to cause hemorrhagic discharge, clinical attention should be paid to the possibility of malignant lesions in patients with hemorrhagic discharge. In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between true nipple discharge and false nipple discharge. True discharge refers to the discharge from the breast duct through the nipple opening, while false discharge usually refers to inflammatory exudate in the nipple area caused by superficial erosion of the nipple or secondary infection due to breast duct fistula. The nipple discharge we refer to here generally refers to true nipple discharge. In summary, if nipple discharge occurs, regardless of the method or characteristics of the discharge, it should be taken seriously because most nipple discharge during non-lactation is a manifestation of various breast diseases.