Evaluation of the diagnosis of intraductal spread to the nipple in breast cancer with nipple discharge

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis of intraductal spread to the nipple in breast cancer with nipple discharge. Seventy-six patients who diagnosed breast cancer with nipple discharge in our hospital between March 2005 and October 2006 were reviewed their intraductal spread to the nipple by mammary ductscopy, ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. These three modalities of findings were compared with the histopathological results. In evaluation of intraductal spread to the nipple, the accuracy of mammary ductscopy, US and MRI are 79.7%, 78.9% and 80.9%, respectively. If the evaluation of one modality correspond with those of other modalities, we could evaluate intraductal spread to the nipple more accurately. When we evaluate intraductal spread to the nipple in breast cancer with nipple discharge, we should consider the evaluation of all modalities together. (author)