[Importance of the systematic cytologic examination of breast secretions: 60 cancers diagnosed in 2120 discharges examined].

The systematic collection of breast secretions by manual expression of the breast and nipple in 2 120 patients examined for breast diseases has led to the following results: 529 (25%) disclose epithelial papillary hyperplasia, 136 of which underwent surgical control. Epithelial hyperplasia without cellular atypias was found in 9 fibroadenomas, 42 fibrocystic diseases, 29 papilloma/papillomatosis and 21 cancers. Atypical or malignant hyperplasia was observed in 42 cases. Out of 60 cancers, thus investigated, 31 (51%) had malignant cells in such induced nipple discharge, 8 (13%) atypical cells and 21 (35%) concomitant papillary hyperplasia. Systematic cytological examination of breast secretion allows to control intraductal epithelial hyperplasia and to eventually disclose malignant tumor.