Correlation of ductoscopic and histopathological findings and their relevance as predictors for malignancy: A German multicenter study

Abstract

Background/Aim: The study aimed at investigating the correlation between ductoscopic and histopathological findings and clarify whether the former allow for accurate prediction of malignancy. Patients and Methods: The prospective national multi-center study covered a sample of 224 patients with pathologic nipple discharge. A total of 214 patients underwent ductoscopy with subsequent extirpation of the mammary duct. The ductoscopic findings were categorized according to shape, number, color and surface structure of lesions and vascularity and compared to the histological results and analyses. Results: Ductoscopy revealed lesions in 134 of 214 patients (62.2%). The criteria "multiple versus solitary lesion" differed significantly between malignant and benign lesions. All other criteria were not statistically significant. Malignant tumors were more frequently presented as multiple lesions, benign lesions or masses as solitary lesions (80% vs. 24.8%; p=0.018). Conclusion: The ductoscopic criterion "solitary vs. multiple lesion" appears to have a low diagnostic prediction of malignancy or benignity.