Other tests

Other tests

These tests may be done for the purposes of research, but they have not yet been found to
be helpful in diagnosing breast cancer in most women.
Nipple discharge exam
If you are having nipple discharge, some of the fluid may be collected and looked at
under a microscope to see if any cancer cells are in it. Most nipple discharges or
secretions are not cancer. In general, if the secretion appears milky or clear green, cancer
is very unlikely. If the discharge is red or red-brown, suggesting that it contains blood, it
might possibly be caused by cancer, although an injury, infection, or benign tumors are
more likely causes.
Even when no cancer cells are found in a nipple discharge, it is not possible to say for
certain that a breast cancer is not there. If a patient has a suspicious mass, it will be
necessary to biopsy the mass, even if the nipple discharge does not contain cancer cells.
Ductal lavage and nipple aspiration
Ductal lavage is an experimental test developed for women who have no symptoms of
breast cancer but are at very high risk for the disease. It is not a test to screen for or
diagnose breast cancer, but it may help give a more accurate picture of a woman's risk of
developing it.

Ductal lavage can be done in a doctor's office or an outpatient facility. An anesthetic
cream is applied to numb the nipple area. Gentle suction is then used to help draw tiny
amounts of fluid from the milk ducts up to the nipple surface, which helps locate the
ducts' natural openings. A tiny tube (called a catheter) is then inserted into a duct
opening. Saline (salt water) is slowly infused into the catheter to gently rinse the duct and
collect cells. The ductal fluid is withdrawn through the catheter and sent to a lab, where
the cells are looked at under a microscope.
Ductal lavage is not done for women who aren't at high risk for breast cancer. It is not
clear if it will ever be useful. The test has not been shown to detect cancer early. It is
more likely to be helpful as a test of cancer risk rather than as a screening test for cancer.
More studies are needed to better define the usefulness of this test.
Nipple aspiration also looks for abnormal cells developing in the ducts, but is much
simpler, because nothing is inserted into the breast. The device for nipple aspiration uses
small cups that are placed on the woman's breasts. The device warms the breasts, gently
compresses them, and applies light suction to bring nipple fluid to the surface of the
breast. The nipple fluid is then collected and sent to a lab for analysis. As with ductal
lavage, the procedure may be useful as a test of cancer risk but is not an appropriate
screening test for cancer. The test has not been shown to detect cancer early.