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Breast Discharge
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Breast discharge is release of any type of fluid from the breasts other than
breast milk. This can be a symptom of infection, inflammation
or a tumor in the breast. Breast milk is also a type of breast discharge
and is considered physiological (normal) in women who are pregnant or breast
feeding
(lactation). However, release of breast milk due to imbalance in
the hormones causing milk production (prolactin) are
out of balance. This condition is called galactorrhea.
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- Non-spontaneous breast discharge - This type of breast discharge is associated
with pregnancy, infection, inflammation, breast feeding, hormonal imbalance
or benign growth in the milk ducts. This type of discharge occurs by pressing
or squeezing the nipple.
- Spontaneous breast discharge - This type of breast discharge is definitely
a serious problem and something to be concerned about. The discharge comes
from the breast spontaneously, without pressing or stimulating it. The discharge
may consist of blood or breast milk. Galactorrhea is a type of spontaneous
discharge of fluid from the nipples. This can be a side of a medication
or may be caused by a non cancerous tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary
adenoma, also known as prolactinoma), decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism),
or certain types of cancer.
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- Breast abscess
- Imbalance of hormones involved in the production of breast milk
- Intraductal papilloma
- Ductal atresia.
- Benign (non-cancerous) growth in the pituitary gland e.g. pituitary adenoma
or prolactinoma.
- Stress
- Trauma to the breast
- Sexual stimulation
- Medications like birth control pills, marijuana, narcotics, anesthetics,
reserpine, methyldopa (Aldomet), cimetidine, metoclopramide, phenothiazines,
reserpine, tricyclic antidepressants, or verapamil.
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- Fluid like discharge from the nipple that may be clear, cloudy, white, yellow,
green or brown and may contain blood.
- Pus discharge coming from the breasts.
- The discharge may be coming from one breast or both the breasts.
- The discharge may be spontaneous (without pressing or squeezing the nipple)
or non-spontaneous (comes out only if the nipple is squeezed or pressed)
- There may be other changes in the areola (dark area around the nipple) or
rest of the breast tissue.
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Discharge from the breast other than milk in a woman who is not pregnant or
breast feeding can be worrisome. A physician should be consulted immediately
for prompt evaluation and treatment of the problem. A surgical
procedure may be performed to remove some
tissue
(biopsy) to investigate and determine the cause of discharge. If the liquid
from the breast is not milk and is bloody, thin, white, green, or yellow, the
cause is more likely to be a breast infection or tumor.
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- Surgery will be done to remove a small growth inside a milk duct in the
breast (intraductal papilloma).
- Medications may be used to control the growth of a small non-cancerous
tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary adenoma).
- Surgery (trans-sphenoidal adenomectomy) may be done to remove a small
non cancerous tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary adenoma).
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