Role of duct excision surgery in the treatment of pathological nipple discharge and detection of breast carcinoma: systematic review.

The malignancy rate after duct excision surgery for pathological nipple discharge was low in patients with pathological nipple discharge without radiological and clinical abnormalities and approximately 9 of 10 patients undergo surgery for a benign cause. Improvement of the diagnostic and therapeutic workup is needed to prevent patients from undergoing (unnecessary) exploratory surgery.