Abnormal nipple discharge:
Causes :
- Galactorrhea: watery or milk discharge in women who
are non pregnant or not breast feeding is called galactorrhea.
Causes:
Over production of prolaction from pituitary gland can led to it.
Prolactinoma, the non cancerous tumor of pituitary gland can cause this.
Hypothyroidism can lead to increased production of prolaction due to TSH stimulation and can cause galactorrhea.
Drugs like antipsychotic medicines, antacids, some hormones, herbs like anise, fennel and illegal drugs like
marijuana etc can cause galactorrhea.
-
Breast infection :
also called as mastitis. The breast will appear sore, red and warm to
touch.
Usually seen in breast feeding
mothers. When milk ducts get blocked and infected pus discharge from nipples
can occur.
In non breast feeding women, causes
like smoking may cause inflammation of the milk ducts and produce pus
containing nipple discharge.
-
Fibrocystic breast changes:
Development of fibrous tissue and
cysts in breast occurs.
That can cause formation of lumps
or thickening.
Causes pain and itching.
Sometimes can lead to clear, white,
yellow or green nipple discharge.
-
Mammary duct ectasia:
Second most common cause of
abnormal nipple discharge.
Usually seen in women who are
approaching menopause.
In duct ectasia inflammation and
possible blockage of ducts located underneath the nipple can be seen.
Superadded infection can lead to
thick and greenish nipple discharge.
-
Breast tumors:
-
Intraductal papilloma:
Non cancerous growth in the ducts
of the breasts.
Most common cause of abnormal
nipple discharge.
When the ducal papillomas get
inflamed they may result in nipple discharge that contains blood and sticky
fluid.
-
Breast carcinoma:
Sometimes breast carcinoma can
cause watery or blood stained nipple discharge when the tumor invades the
ducts.
If a patient presents with nipple
discharge accompanied by a lump or mass within the breast or with abnormal
mammogram.
Intraductal carcinoma: It develops
within the ducts of the breast located beneath the nipple and can cause nipple
discharge.
Pagets disease: develops in the
ducts of the breast and then moves to nipple.
It can cause nipple and surrounding
areas to bleed or ooze.
It usually accompanied by another
form of breast cancer.
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