White discharge from the nipple

Under normal circumstances, women's breasts do not secrete anything. The most common secretion is milk secretion during lactation. If there is normally white secretion from the nipple, it is most likely caused by nipple discharge, which is a typical symptom of breast disease. There are many possible reasons. It is important to find out the cause as soon as possible and treat it accordingly. So, what is the reason for white discharge from the nipples? Let’s take a look below.

Nipple discharge is a common symptom of breast disease and can be divided into physiological discharge and pathological discharge. Physiological discharge refers to lactation during pregnancy and lactation, bilateral nipple discharge caused by oral contraceptives or sedatives, and unilateral or bilateral small amounts of discharge in postmenopausal women. Pathological discharge refers to intermittent or persistent nipple discharge from one or more ducts on one or both sides under non-physiological circumstances, lasting from months to years.

Causes

1. Diencephalic diseases or pituitary lesions, such as diencephalic tumors and adjacent tissue tumors, prolactin adenoma, pineal tumor, hyperpituitarism, acromegaly, etc.;

2. Endocrine system diseases, such as primary hypothyroidism, adrenal tumor, etc.;

3. Chest diseases, such as chronic mastitis, chest herpes zoster, etc.;

4. Side effects of drugs, such as chlorpromazine, morphine, reserpine, metoclopramide, metoclopramide and other hormone drugs such as birth control pills, can cause endocrine dysfunction in the human body, stimulate prolactin secretion, and lead to breast discharge;

5. Local stimulation of the breast and systemic stress response, such as frequent playing or sucking of nipples, severe mental trauma and other factors, can also lead to a transient increase in prolactin and cause breast discharge.

Clinical manifestations

If the nipple discharge is from one nipple, it is often related to the following breast diseases:

1. Mammary duct ectasia

For some patients with this disease, the first symptom is nipple discharge. The color of the discharge is mostly brown, and a few are bloody. This disease is more common in non-lactating or menopausal women over 40 years old. There is a lump adhered to the skin in the areola area where discharge occurs, which is usually less than 3 cm in diameter. The axillary lymph nodes on the same side may be enlarged, soft, and tender.

2. Intraductal papilloma

This disease is more common in people aged 40 to 50. The tumor mostly occurs in the area near the nipple. The tumor is very small, has a pedicle and villi, and has many thin-walled blood vessels, so it is easy to bleed. When palpating the patient's breasts, sometimes a cherry-sized lump can be found under the areola, which is soft, smooth and movable.

3. Breast cystic hyperplasia

It is more common in women of childbearing age. The nipple discharge of some patients is yellow-green, brown, bloody or colorless serous. This disease has two characteristics: one is that it manifests as periodic breast pain, which is more common or worsens before menstruation. Second, breast lumps are often multiple and can be seen on one side or both sides. They can also be limited to one part of the breast or dispersed throughout the breast. The lumps are nodular and of varying sizes, tough but not hard, not adhered to the skin, and have unclear boundaries with surrounding tissues. The lumps may shrink after menstruation.

4. Breast cancer

Some breast cancer patients have bright red or dark red nipple discharge, and sometimes clear water discharge that is colorless and transparent, occasionally sticky, and leaves no trace after discharge. The two peak incidence periods of this disease are 45 to 49 years old and 60 to 64 years old. Patients may accidentally discover a breast lump, which is usually located at the upper inner or outer limit, is painless, and gradually grows larger. In the late stage of lesions, orange peel-like skin changes and satellite nodules appear. The axillary lymph nodes are enlarged and hard, and fuse into clumps as the disease progresses.