Patient's question:
Last July, I discovered nipple discharge with blood. When I went to the hospital for imaging tests, no abnormalities were found. The doctor suggested it might be a galactoma.Doctor's answer:
Hello, there are several types of examinations for nipple discharge:1. Prolactin Blood Test: For non-pregnant individuals, a normal prolactin level is 200 ng/L, with approximately 70% indicating a pituitary tumor. In such cases, elevated prolactin levels are often accompanied by other abnormal signs of pituitary tumors.
2. Cytological Examination of Nipple Discharge: This is an effective and simple method that is painless and can be repeated. It should be included as a routine examination. While it has specificity for diagnosing malignant diseases, it is not very sensitive and has a low positive rate. Its accuracy depends on the smear technique and the skill of the pathologist.
3. Color Doppler Examination of Nipple Discharge: This can provide a general understanding of whether there are masses in the breast, as well as significant ductal dilation and cysts.
4. CEA Determination in Nipple Discharge: Foreign scholars believe this method can be used as one of the screening tools for breast cancer. Using monoclonal antibody CEA for enzymatic immunoassay, the sensitivity and specificity for papillary lesions are 60% and 50%, respectively. In primary breast cancer patients, 90% of nipple discharge CEA tests are positive, making it highly valuable for diagnosis.
5. Pathological Examination of Nipple Discharge: Any case of nipple discharge accompanied by suspected breast nodules should undergo excisional biopsy for pathological examination. This is the most reliable diagnostic method.