Table 2 Types of spontaneous discharge
Types of spontaneous discharge | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Galactorrhea | Pathological | Physiological | |
Characteristics | Milky | Serosanguinous or watery | Colored, opalescent |
Extent | Bilateral | One duct | Multiple ducts |
Color | Uniform | Variable in different ducts: green, brown, yellow, etc. | |
Etiology | Physiological/pathological galactorrhea (increased prolactin) | Intraductal proliferation (papilloma, DCIS, carcinoma) duct ectasia | Physiological, duct ectasia, microcysts |
Origin of process | Systemic | Local | Multiple ducts in one or both breasts |