Ductography
A ductogram, or galactogram, is a diagnostic exam used to identify and examine a duct—which is a small opening in the nipple—where nipple discharge has been observed. It is an x-ray examination that uses mammography, a low-dose x-ray system for examining breasts. These images are obtained by injecting contrast material into the discharging duct. These pictures are called galactograms and show the inside of the breast’s milk ducts.
The most common use of ductograms is to evaluate a woman who has a spontaneous bloody or clear discharge from her nipple and an otherwise normal mammogram and ultrasound.
Ductography is typically NOT called for in women with the following conditions:
- A discharge that is milky, yellow, green, black or gray is usually not a cause for concern, especially if it comes from multiple ducts in the breast.
- A discharge that is from both breasts in a woman who has not had children may indicate a side effect from a drug or may be related to a pituitary problem located in the brain.