ductal lavage
A minimally invasive procedure that collects cells from breast ducts for cytological analysis to assess cancer risk.
Full Definition
Ductal lavage is a diagnostic procedure that involves inserting a tiny catheter through the nipple opening into milk ducts to collect cellular material for cytological examination. The technique uses saline irrigation to harvest cells from the ductal epithelium, which are then analyzed for atypical or malignant changes. While initially developed as a risk assessment tool for breast cancer screening in high-risk women, ductal lavage has limited clinical adoption due to technical challenges, patient discomfort, and uncertain correlation with actual cancer risk. The procedure remains primarily investigational in most clinical settings.
Usage
Usage note: Procedure has limited clinical utility and is primarily used in research settings.
In Context
- "Ductal lavage was offered as part of the high-risk surveillance protocol but declined by the patient." — High-risk clinic consultation
- "The research study evaluated ductal lavage findings in women with BRCA mutations." — Clinical research protocol