Is duct ectasia of the breasts a serious condition?
Prof Indraneel Mittra
Professor Indraneel Mittra
Dr Ernest Borges Chair in Translational Research and Professor Emeritus,
Department of Surgical Oncology
Tata Memorial Centre Tata Memorial Hospital and Advanced Centre for Treatment,
Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC),
Mumbai
Professor Indraneel Mittra
Dr Ernest Borges Chair in Translational Research and Professor Emeritus,
Department of Surgical Oncology
Tata Memorial Centre Tata Memorial Hospital and Advanced Centre for Treatment,
Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC),
Mumbai
Q: I am 57 years old. Recently I took a mammogram and ultrasound which reported: suggestive of bilateral mild retroareolar duct ectasia. I took a second opinion and that ultrasound reported bilateral retracted nipples. What do these mean?
A:Duct ectasia is a very common finding in women of your age. It only means slight dilatation of the milk ducts due to accumulation of normal secretions from these milk ducts. This is often caused by retracted (in-drawn) nipples as suggested by the second ultrasound report. There is nothing to worry about.