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What is a ductogram/galactogram?

Ductography or galactography is a special type of contrast-enhanced mammography used for imaging the breast ducts. The image that results from ductography is called a ductogram or galactogram. Ductography can aid in diagnosing the cause of an abnormal nipple discharge.
 
How is ductography performed?
Ductography usually takes 30-60 minutes. Patients referred for ductography must have nipple discharge at the time of the study. After careful physical preparation of a discharging breast duct, a small amount of contrast media is injected into the breast duct with a tiny, blunt catheter connected to a syringe so the area can be visualized more clearly on the following mammogram.
 
Are ductograms painful?
A ductogram procedure can be mildly uncomfortable but usually not painful.
 
What treatment may follow ductography?

The ductogram (galactogram) may or may not identify the cause of the discharge. Many patients who undergo ductography ultimately need surgery to fix the discharge. Surgery may involve removing a nodule in the breast duct or removal of the entire duct may be required.

However, even if the cause of discharge is not visible, the ductogram can be used to stain the breast duct blue and help the surgeon find the correct duct and remove only that duct. Thus ductography followed by this selective surgery can often eliminate the need to remove several or all of the breast ducts.


 
 



 
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