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What Causes Yellowish Fluid Leakage From One Of Breast?
Question: I am 73 Yrs. old and for several months am having clear fluid leaking from one of my breast. What is the cause and what can be done. My GYN had me have an ultrasound which was inconclusive of a problem and sent me to a breast surgeon. I was told by the surgeon that this was not an uncommon problem and I should not be concerned only if the liquid became yellow or bloody. I now have yellowish fluid leakage.
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I understand the problem,
The common causes of duct discharge are :
1. Duct papilloma a non cancerous small tumor of the duct. This can be removed easily.
2. Duct ectasia: or atrophy of a few ducts leading to production of a discharge. Self correcting in most cases.
3. Infection : leads to yellow discharge, may be pain and redness.
4. cancer of the duct: rare, but needs to be ruled out.
I suggest that as of now, please get an examination of the discharge fluid under the microscope as you already have a history of breast and prostrate cancer in the family. A culture of the dischrge will also help as it will give an idea if it is infected. It is best to use fluid that has collected overnight for the microscopy as it is more likely to yield positive results.
Further treatment will then depend upon these results. Please also discuss the option of mammography with your surgeon considering the positive family history.
Do not worry as ectasia is common and produces a discharge that is usually self correcting.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I understand the problem,
The common causes of duct discharge are :
1. Duct papilloma a non cancerous small tumor of the duct. This can be removed easily.
2. Duct ectasia: or atrophy of a few ducts leading to production of a discharge. Self correcting in most cases.
3. Infection : leads to yellow discharge, may be pain and redness.
4. cancer of the duct: rare, but needs to be ruled out.
I suggest that as of now, please get an examination of the discharge fluid under the microscope as you already have a history of breast and prostrate cancer in the family. A culture of the dischrge will also help as it will give an idea if it is infected. It is best to use fluid that has collected overnight for the microscopy as it is more likely to yield positive results.
Further treatment will then depend upon these results. Please also discuss the option of mammography with your surgeon considering the positive family history.
Do not worry as ectasia is common and produces a discharge that is usually self correcting.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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