clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Patients are most commonly in the decade around the menopause or older. It has been estimated that by the age of 70, 40% of women have a substantial degree of duct ectasia.
Presentation is usually with a hard or doughy tender lump beneath or close to the areola, and nipple discharge which is often cheesy but may be green or blood stained. There may be slit-like nipple retraction.
The condition may be complicated by secondary infection.
Dilated ducts may be seen on mammography.
Differentiation from carcinoma may be difficult clinically.