Nipple discharge - abnormal

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Abnormal discharge from the nipple

Female breast

Discharge from breasts; Milk secretions; Lactation - abnormal; Witches milk; Galactorrhea

Follow provider-prescribed therapy.

If there is any abnormal nipple discharge, call your health care provider.

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting a nipple discharge in detail may include:

• Are you pregnant?
• Are you breast-feeding?
• What type of drainage is there?
  • Does it look like milk (even though you are not breast-feeding)?
  • Does it look bloody?
  • Does it look like pus?
• Is the drainage from both breasts?
• How much drainage is there?
  • Enough to stain the lining of the bra?
  • Enough to soak through the bra?
  • Does the discharge occur spontaneously, or only when expressed?
• Do you perform breast self-examination? How often?
• What medications do you take?
• What other symptoms are also present? Especially, is there:
  • fever
  • a breast lump
  • breast pain
  • headaches or change in vision

The physical examination will include examination of the breasts for lumps or other abnormality.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• breast biopsy (if lump is found)
• cytologic study of discharge (a study of the cells in the discharge)
• head CT scan to look for pituitary tumor
• mammography
• serum prolactin
• transillumination (a light is placed against the breast to help determine if there is an accumulation of fluid in the tissue)
• ultrasonography (ultrasound of the breast)

Review Date: 05/23/2006
Reviewed By: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network