Ductal lavage: a way of carefully tracing the breast-secreting duct
- Authors: RUSSO A; GREGORIO V; SISTO P S; CAL V; AGNESE V; AUGELLO C; CASCIO S; BADALAMENTI G; FRICANO S; NAPOLI L; GIORDANO A; SANTINI D; GEBBIA N; BAZAN V
- Publication year: 2006
- Type: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/33879
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasia in women after nonmelanoma skin tumors. Unfortunately, present-day diagnostic methods are unable to identify the presence of a cancer until it has been developing for several years. Currently, ductal lavage seems to represent a new method of reaching an early diagnosis of breast cancer. Materials & methods: This study analyzed 30 patients with ages ranging from 40 to 55 years; and in 26 of these patients, we were able to obtain a sufficient quantity of material for cytological and biomolecular analysis. Results & conclusion: We propose an easy, reproducible method that makes it possible to obtain a detailed map of the nipple, in order to re-identify the duct orifice and take a series of repeated samples from it over a period of time. This procedure is a promising screening and translational research tool since it provides the quantity and quality of ductal fluid required for subsequent cytological and biomolecular analyses