Galactography is a type of mammography with contrast that serves to diagnose the cause of blood or any other liquid coming out of the nipples outside of the breastfeeding period.
This test is indicated for women and may hurt a little, because for its accomplishment it is necessary to inject about 1 ml of contrast through an injection in the nipples, realizing the digital mammography normally, soon to follow. Learn how it is done here.
This liquid will evidence the inside of the milk ducts responsible for fluid outflow and may be useful to indicate the presence of clogged ducts due to cysts or nodules that may be benign or malignant. Usually a clogged duct is caused by a papilloma that is not a cancer but may be a pre-cancerous lesion and so should be investigated.
When not to do
Contrast-enhanced mammography should not be performed during pregnancy or breast-feeding, in women with contrast allergy used, and also in case of severe infection that may spread due to the presence of the medication or the pressure exerted on the breasts.
What can cause fluid to pass out through the nipples
The nipples are used to carry the breast milk to the baby and should only allow the discharge of liquids for this purpose during breastfeeding. When the woman notices any liquid coming out of her nipples, she should go to the gynecologist to investigate what is happening. Some possible causes are the use of medications such as phenothiazines, antihypertensives or narcotics, hypothyroidism or even tumor in the pituitary gland. When these possibilities are excluded the doctor can request the mammography checked to aid in the diagnosis.
