Mammary duct ectasia

Found this:

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/mammary-duct-ectasia/DS00751.html


Mammary duct ectasia

Filed under: Women's Health
Mammary duct ectasia occurs when a milk duct beneath your nipple becomes dilated, the duct walls thicken and the duct fills with fluid. The milk duct can then become blocked or clogged with a thick, sticky substance. Though it's normal to worry about any changes in your breasts, mammary duct ectasia is not a sign of or a risk factor for breast cancer.

Mammary duct ectasia occurs most often in women in their 40s and 50s. The condition often causes no symptoms, but some women may have nipple discharge and breast tenderness or inflammation in the area near the nipple (periductal mastitis).

Mammary duct ectasia usually improves without treatment. However, if symptoms persist despite self-care measures, you may need Antibiotics or possibly surgery to remove the affected milk duct.


Symptoms

Although mammary duct ectasia often doesn't cause signs and symptoms, you may experience:

A dirty white, greenish or black nipple discharge
Discharge from one or both nipples
Tenderness in the nipple or surrounding breast tissue
Redness
A lump or thickening
An inverted nipple
A bacterial infection called mastitis also may develop in the affected milk duct and cause inflammation in the area around the nipple (areola) and fever. Signs and symptoms of mammary duct ectasia usually improve on their own.

When to see a doctor

Although mammary duct ectasia is not a sign of breast cancer, it's important for your doctor to promptly evaluate any changes in your breasts. If you have symptoms of mammary duct ectasia — especially unusual nipple discharge — make an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation. Your doctor will ask you some questions and perform a physical exam.

Causes

Your breasts are made up of connective tissues that include a system of milk ducts — tiny passages that carry milk to the nipples. Mammary duct ectasia occurs when a milk duct beneath the nipple becomes dilated and inflamed.

Experts don't know exactly what causes mammary duct ectasia. Some speculate the cause to be associated with:

Breast tissue changes due to aging. As you age, the composition of your breast tissue changes from mostly glandular to mostly fatty in a process called involution. These normal breast changes can sometimes lead to blockage of a milk duct and the inflammation associated with mammary duct ectasia.

Smoking. Cigarette smoking may be associated with dilation of milk ducts, which can lead to inflammation and, possibly, mammary duct ectasia. The effect of cigarette smoking on breast tissue seems to be greater in younger women.

Nipple inversion. A newly inverted nipple may obstruct milk ducts, causing inflammation and infection. A nipple that's newly inverted also could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as cancer.