Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 10/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: After being diagnosed with an intraductal papilloma, I was told it would need to be surgically removed because it might be cancerous. Do you have any statistics as to how likely it is to be cancer? I have heard from as low as 5% to as high as 35%, which is a pretty big difference. Just wondering how necessary and urgent the surgery really is.  Thank you.

ANSWER: To be able to assess that in any way I need ALL the information on which this "diagnosis" - or rather suspicion - was based. The whole matter will be too uncertain otherwise. If you are not able to do that I must say that you should probably follow the advice to be on the safe side.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I was seen on a mammogram, then on ultrasound and then confirmed with a core biopsy.  The core biopsy did not show cancer or irregular cells, but the papilloma has been present for at least 3 years, when my very first mammogram was done.  So it seems there's no way to know how long it has actually been there.  It is about 1 cm in size.  I don't know if that helps, but it is all the information they gave me.  Thank you.

Answer
Well a papilloma - if confirmed by the biopsy - is not malignant. But a papilloma can block milk ducts increasing risks of infections and inflammations there. So it is not just a matter of cancer or no cancer. That is however outside my area of expertise here and should be discussed with a surgeon.