The duct ectasia syndrome. A prospective clinical study of patients with breast diseases

Mammary duct ectasia is a benign condition of the mammary gland histopathologically characterized by inflammatory changes in the collecting ducts. A prospective clinical and histopathological study was done of 316 consecutive patients with surgical mammary diseases. The syndrome of mammary duct ectasia (DES) was found in 42 patients (13%). The mean age was 44 years and 81% of the patients were pre- or menopausal. Forty-eight percent of the patients had a history of previous benign breast lesions and abnormality associated with lactation was also frequently represented in the history. Major symptoms were tumour formation, localised in the subareolar region in more than half of the cases, subareolar abscess and nipple discharge. Minor symptoms were mastalgia, mammary fistula, nipple retraction, general symptoms and enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Treatment for an abscess in DES seems to fail more often if only incision and drainage are performed. Excision of the entire focus and corresponding duct may prove to be better.