intraductal papilloma
Meaning of intraductal papilloma: An intraductal papilloma is a benign, wart like growth within a breast milk duct that can cause nipple discharge.
Definition of intraductal papilloma
An intraductal papilloma is a benign, meaning noncancerous, wart like growth that develops within a milk duct of the breast. A solitary intraductal papilloma typically forms close to the nipple and may cause a clear or blood tinged nipple discharge, along with a small lump that can sometimes be felt beneath the areola.
When multiple intraductal papillomas are present instead of a single one, they tend to form farther from the nipple, deeper within the breast tissue, and are less likely to cause noticeable nipple discharge or a palpable lump, often being identified instead through imaging.
A single intraductal papilloma does not meaningfully increase the future risk of breast cancer, while having multiple intraductal papillomas is associated with a somewhat increased risk, a distinction that affects how each pattern is followed over time.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Ductography and biopsy confirmed an intraductal papilloma as the cause of the nipple discharge.
Good to know
A solitary intraductal papilloma near the nipple and multiple papillomas deeper within the breast carry different implications for future breast cancer risk, so the number and location of papillomas found are both noted.
Word origin
Where “intraductal papilloma” comes from
Intraductal derives from Latin intra-, meaning within, and ductus, meaning duct; papilloma derives from Latin papilla, meaning small projection, combined with the Greek suffix -oma, meaning tumor or swelling.