Ductoscopy or mammary ductoscopy (also: ''breast duct endoscopy'', ''galactoscopy'') is a medical diagnostic procedure for viewing and collecting

epithelial cells Epithelium or epithelial tissue is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. It is a thin, continuous, protective layer of compactly packed cells with a little intercellula ...

and other internal features of the

milk ducts Lactiferous ducts are ducts that converge and form a branched system connecting the nipple to the lobules of the mammary gland. When lactogenesis occurs, under the influence of hormones, the milk is moved to the nipple by the action of smooth mus ...

. It is capable of detecting smaller abnormalities than

mammogram Mammography (also called mastography) is the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through d ...

MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves ...

ultrasound Ultrasound is sound waves with frequency, frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing range, hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hea ...

tests. Ductoscopy can be performed in a physician's office or as an outpatient in a clinic. A fiber optic scope less than a millimeter thick is inserted into the milk duct at the nipple and threaded deep into the breast through the duct. No incision is involved. An imaging system displays the output of the scope on a computer monitor. Samples of epithelial cells can be collected onto

microscope slide A microscope slide is a thin flat piece of glass, typically 75 by 26 mm (3 by 1 inches) and about 1 mm thick, used to hold objects for examination under a microscope. Typically the object is mounted (secured) on the slide, and then b ...

s for further analysis. Local anesthetic may be employed to reduce discomfort. Latest Mammary Ductoscope, also called Micro Endoscope, is available with the diameter of 0.35 mm. The endoscopes is used along with a 3-way cannula. The other two ports are used for saline irrigation and Biopsy Forceps of 0.4 mm diameter. Ductoscopy can also be performed in conjunction with a

lumpectomy Lumpectomy (sometimes known as a tylectomy, partial mastectomy, breast segmental resection or breast wide local excision) is a surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumor or brea ...

, allowing the surgeon to achieve clean margins with a minimum of excess tissue removed.

References

* https://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlusScreeningAndDiagnosis/story?id=3642506 * "Breast ductoscopy with a 0.55-mm mini-endoscope for direct visualization of intraductal lesions" by VR Jacobs et al. {{Breast procedures Breast Diagnostic obstetrics and gynaecology Endoscopy