Ductal lavage: a way of carefully tracing the breast-secreting duct. Issue 3 (May 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Russo, Antonio; Gregorio, Valter; Sisto, Pasqua Sandra; Calòò, Valentina; Agnese, Valentina; Augello, Claudia; Cascio, Sandra; Badalamenti, Giuseppe; Fricano, Salvatore; Napoli, Liborio; Giordano, Antonio; Santini, Daniele; Gebbia, Nicola; Bazan, Viviana
• Is Part Of: Therapy. Volume 3:Issue 3(2006)
• Page Start: 389
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2006-05
• Subjects: biomarkers -- ductal lavage -- duct location -- screening -- tool; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.2217/14750708.3.3.389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-0708

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasia in women after nonmelanoma skin tumors. Unfortunately, present-day diagnostic methods are unable to identify the presence of a cancer until it has been developing for several years. Currently, ductal lavage seems to represent a new method of reaching an early diagnosis of breast cancer.Materials & methods: This study analyzed 30 patients with ages ranging from 40 to 55 years; and in 26 of these patients, we were able to obtain a sufficient quantity of material for cytological and biomolecular analysis.Results & conclusion: We propose an easy, reproducible method that makes it possible to obtain a detailed map of the nipple, in order to re-identify the duct orifice and take a series of repeated samples from it over a period of time. This procedure is a promising screening and translational research tool since it provides the quantity and quality of ductal fluid required for subsequent cytological and biomolecular analyses.