ArticlePloS one2018
Galactography is not an obsolete investigation in the evaluation of pathological nipple discharge.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- The added value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to BI-RADS in the evaluation of breast lesions presenting with pathological nipple discharge.Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · 2026Article
- An update on multimodal imaging strategies for nipple discharge: from detection to decision.Insights into imaging · 2025Article
- The Use of MRI to Detect Malignancy in a Patient Presenting With Unilateral Bloody Nipple Discharge.Cureus · 2023Article
- The Value of Adding Ductography to Ultrasonography for the Evaluation of Pathologic Nipple Discharge in Women with Negative Mammography.Korean journal of radiology · 2022Article
- Stereotaxic Core-Needle Biopsy in Assessing Intraductal Pathologic Findings at Ductography.European journal of breast health · 2022Article
- Multimodality approach to the nipple-areolar complex: a pictorial review and diagnostic algorithm.Insights into imaging · 2020Review
- DBT-galactography: a promising tool for improving the diagnostic workup of nipple discharge.European radiology experimental · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the malignancy rate and diagnostic performance of galactography in patients with pathological nipple discharge (PND) after negative clinical breast examination, mammography and ultrasound. MATERIALS AND
methodsWe retrospectively evaluated all galactograms obtained between January 2006 and December 2014 in women with PND. Galactographic findings were classified into 6 groups according to a modified Galactogram Image Classification system (GICS) to comply with the breast imaging reporting and data system classification. Observers were blinded to the final histology and clinical outcome at the time of analysis. MRI was performed as a problem solving ancillary examination. Imaging findings, pathological diagnosis and follow-up data were evaluated. The diagnostic performance of MRI and technically successful galactography in the detection of neoplastic or risk lesions were separately calculated.
resultsA total of 146 patients with PND (mean age, 51.5 years; range, 17-93) were examined. Malignant lesions were detected in only 4 patients (2.7%) and risk-lesions in 5 patients (3.4%). Only one low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ was missed by galactography (GICS 1) and MRI. MRI examinations were performed in 21 (14.4%) patients; one of these patients (4.8%) had a malignant finding (GICS 0), two (9.5%) had risk-lesions (GICS 2 and 5). In the detection of neoplastic or risk lesions the sensitivity and specificity of galactography were 77.4% and 75.7% and of MRI 85.7% and 71.4%, consecutively.
conclusionThe malignancy rate is negligible if clinical, mammography, ultrasound and galactography examinations are negative. Galactography remains a practical, valuable and cost-effective examination procedure. If galactography is technically unsuccessful, MRI should be considered as an additional ancillary tool to evaluate the possible etiology of symptoms, but the routine use of MRI in all patients cannot be justified.
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