Ann Surg Treat Res.  2014 Mar;86(3):165-167. 10.4174/astr.2014.86.3.165.

Mammary duct ectasia with bloody nipple discharge in a child

• Jung Y
• Chung JH

• KMID: 2266898
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2014.86.3.165

Abstract

Mammary duct ectasia is a rare disease in children and often presents as a cystic mass with bloody nipple discharge. The pathophysiology of mammary duct ectasia is unclear, and the differential diagnosis of other cystic masses with hemorrhage, such as complicated lymphangioma, is necessary. Here, we report a 14-month-old boy who exhibited unilateral mammary duct ectasia with bloody nipple discharge that was treated with surgical excision. Because some authors have reported that mammary duct ectasia can be often be resolved without surgery, conservative therapy should be considered first when a child presents with a cystic mass with bloody nipple discharge. However, the optimal duration of follow-up and timing of surgical excision have not yet been established.

Keyword

Mammary gland; Blood; Nipples; Child

MeSH Terms

Child*
Diagnosis, Differential
Dilatation, Pathologic*
Follow-Up Studies
Hemorrhage
Humans
Infant
Lymphangioma
Male
Mammary Glands, Human
Nipples*
Rare Diseases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Gross appearance of the patient showing the bloody nipple discharge from the right breast.

• 

  Fig. 2 Ultrasonogram showing a 1.0 cm × 0.8 cm multiseptated cystic mass in the right subareolar region (A) with internal echogenic contents in the macrocystic portion of the mass with minimal septal vascular flow (B). The operative findings showing a dark, bloody, fluid-filled multiseptated cystic mass (C) and the microscopic findings of the specimen demonstrating multiple dilated ducts containing histiocytes and degenerated epithelial cells with periductal fibrosis (D: H&E, ×20).

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