Diagnostic Tests for Nipple discharge

Diagnostic Test list for Nipple discharge:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Nipple discharge includes:

• Physical examination
  • Induce and inspect the discharge by compressing a quadrant of the breast Examination of breasts for breast lump
  • Axillary and supraclavicular lymph node examination
  • If suspicious lump is found, inspect liver, lungs and spine for signs of metastases
• Blood tests
  • Prolactin hormone should be ordered if the nipple discharge is bilateral and milky
  • Pregnancy test
  • Thyroid hormone (to look for a pituitary tumor or hypothyroidism)
  • Renal function tests (kidney failure may elevate prolactin levels)
  • Liver function test (liver failure may elevate prolactin levels)
• Radiological investigations
  • Mammogram - looking for signs of breast cancer including an irregular infiltrating mass with focal spotty microcalcification.
  • Breast Ultrasound - most useful in women less than 30 years of age; in.
  • Pregnant and lactating women; for differentiating between fluid filledcysts and a solid mass; and for palpable masses at periphery of breast tissue
  • CT Scan of the brain and pituitary, if prolactin level is elevated
• Cytological examination of the nipple discharge - for exfoliated cancer cells Biopsy of breast lump - fine needle aspirate, fine needle biopsy or excisional biopsy.
• Biopsy of nipple erosion if suspect Paget's disease

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Nipple discharge causes:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Test Kits
  • Home Flu Tests
  • Home Strep A Tests
• Menopause: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Menopause Tests
  • Home FSH Hormone Tests
  • Home Osteoporosis Testing
• Vaginal Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Vaginal Infection Tests
  • Home Vaginal PH Tests
  • Home Yeast Infection Tests
  • Home Candida Kits
  • Home Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Test Kits
  • Home Bladder Test Kits
• Breast Cancer: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Breast Cancer Test Kits
  • Home Breast Lump Detection

 » Next page: Glossary

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Glossary
• Surveys
• Join in at the forums

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Nipple discharge
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City