Diagnosis
Additional tests may be necessary based on the information you provide to your doctor and the results of a physical examination.
- Nipple and areola ultrasound. An ultrasound creates images of breast tissue using sound waves. This enables your doctor to examine the milk ducts that are located underneath your nipple. Using a diagnostic ultrasound, your doctor can concentrate on a suspect location.
- Mammogram. Your doctor can assess the tissue of your breasts using the X-ray images provided by mammography. In comparison to a screening mammogram, a diagnostic mammogram offers more thorough views of a particular region of your breast.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Makes precise photos of your breast using radio waves and strong magnets.
Treatment
Treatment for mammary duct ectasia may not always be required, but there are various options available if your symptoms are causing discomfort:
- Antibiotics. It is possible that a doctor could recommend taking antibiotics for a period of 10 to 14 days to address an infection resulting from mammary duct ectasia. It is essential to follow the doctor’s prescription and complete the entire course of medication, even if the symptoms start to improve or disappear entirely.
- Pain medication. If you experience breast soreness, you could experiment with a moderate painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It is important to adhere to your doctor’s recommendation regarding which pain reliever is most suitable for your needs.
- Surgery. The damaged milk duct may need to be surgically removed if an abscess has formed and antibiotics and self-care measures have failed. A small incision is made to perform this treatment at the margin of the pigmented tissue surrounding your nipple (areola). Surgery is seldom necessary for the treatment of mammary duct ectasia.