Ductography
Ductography is an x-ray examination of the breast ducts. The breast ducts are tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple. This test may also be called galactography or galactogram.
Why ductography is done
Ductography is not used instead of mammography to diagnose breast cancer. It may be used with diagnostic mammography to:
Back to top
How ductography is done
- A thin plastic tube is placed into the opening of a duct in the nipple.
- A small amount of contrast medium is injected into the duct. This helps outline the shape of the duct on an x-ray image and shows if there is a lump inside the duct.
- X-rays of the breast are then taken with mammography.
- Ductography can be uncomfortable, but is not usually painful.
- The test takes about 20 minutes to 1 hour.
- A bandage is placed over the nipple after the test.
Back to top
What the results mean
Nipple discharge is usually due to a non-cancerous condition. Nipple discharge that is bloody, clear or colourless, rather than milky, may be more suspicious. Further tests may be needed to see if cancer is causing the discharge.
Back to top
What happens if a change or abnormality is found
The doctor will decide if further tests or treatment (such as excision of the duct) is needed.
Back to top
Ductal lavage
Ductography is sometimes confused with ductal lavage. Ductal lavage removes breast cells from a milk duct through a small flexible tube (catheter), but no x-ray is taken. The sample from a ductal lavage is examined under a microscope to determine whether or not there are abnormal cells in the duct.
Back to top