Galactoductography

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Galactoductography was performed on 42 female clients and one male client who presented with nipple discharge.

Nipple discharge that was described as either bloody, brownish, clear or darkish was considered pathological. The majority of the clients who presented to our department were referred from surgical, medical and endocrinology clinics within our referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and from private hospitals in Nairobi. A few were referred from district and provincial hospitals.

The discharging breast was examined by the radiologist and the discharging duct cannulised under asceptic technique. Approximately 2 ml non-ionic water soluble contrast media was injected with patient pain appreciation as a guideline on the amount of contrast. A series of films in craniocaudal, oblique and magnified views were taken with the cannula in situ. Mammograms and galactoductography were performed on 43 clients. The age range was from 25 to 60 years. The average age group was 30 to 40 years. The average parity was between 0-4 children. There was no significant right to left breast preference: left, 24; right, 19. Bloody nipple discharge was seen in 53.4% of the clients. Seventy-nine per cent of mammograms were reported normal despite discharging nipples. Galactoductography revealed an existing pathology. Galactoductography was normal in 16.2%. Galactoductography was found to be more sensitive in ductal pathology than mammography.