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Nipple discharge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ICD-10 | N64.5 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 611.79 |
Nipple discharge is the abnormal release of fluid from the nipples of the breasts. It is the third major reason, involving the breasts, for which women seek medical attention, after lumps and breast pain. The risk of nipple discharge increases with both age and number of pregnancies, but is also known to occur in adolescent boys and girls going through puberty. Discharge often is the result of stimulation of the breasts or by irritation through clothing.
There are many different types of discharges. Some associations include:
- cloudy white color -- most common, can be galactorrhea
- clear or light white -- pregnancy
- red -- contains blood -- most often due to breast infection or intraductal papillomas, but can be breast cancer
- pus -- infection
| If the nipple discharge is ... | It might be caused by ... |
|---|---|
| Clear, yellow, white or dark green | Normal (physiological) breast function |
| Clear, straw-colored | Early pregnancy |
| Thin, milky | Pregnancy or breast-feeding |
| Bloody | Intraductal papilloma Breast cancer |
| Pus | Breast infection |
| Milky or clear, possibly yellow or green | Galactorrhea |
| Clear, yellow or bloody | An injury |
| Yellow, green, brown or black | Duct ectasia Fibrocystic breast changes |