Solitary breast papilloma: Comparison of galactographic and ductal echographic features

To compare the galactographic and ductal echographic features of solitary breast papilloma and to determine the role of the ductal echography. Twenty patients with pathologically proven solitary intraductal papilloma were included, and galactography and ductal echography were available in all patients. Galactograms were assessed for the presence of filling defect, obstructed duct and location of lesion. Ductal echograms were assessed for the presence of mass, dilated duct, location of the mass and Kamio type. All ductal echograms and galactograms were reviewed, and the detectability of lesion was evaluated. The detectability of lesion on galactography was 18/20 (90%) and 17/20 (85%) on ductal echography, respectively. There were three cases of Kamio type Ia, fourteen cases of Ib, two cases of Ic and one case of IIb. In four cases with multiple filling defects detected on galactograms, three cases showed single or no lesion on ductal echograms. Two cases without a definite filling defect on galactograms showed a small mass on ductal echograms. In addition, when the proximal duct was completely obstructed, the distal ductal system could be visualized on ductal echogram. Ductal echography showed a similar detectability of intraductal papilloma as galactography, but ductal echography can be complementary to galactography for the diagnosis of the papilloma.