Cancer Breast Cancer Benign Breast Conditions An Overview of Intraductal Papillomas in the Breast This benign condition affects the lining of the milk duct By Pam Stephan Pam Stephan is a breast cancer survivor. Learn about our editorial process Pam Stephan Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on July 20, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on February 12, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Breast Cancer Risk An intraductal papilloma is a small, benign (non-cancerous), wart-like growth on the lining of the milk duct that may cause nipple discharge. Intraductal papillomas are usually close to the nipple, but they can sometimes be found elsewhere in the breast. Whether you have one intraductal papilloma or several (known as intraductal papillomatosis), your risk of developing breast cancer may be slightly increased. Science Photo Library / Getty Images Intraductal papilloma makes up less than 10 percent of benign breast lesions and less than 1 percent of malignant (cancerous) breast tumors. Intraductal papillomas are different from papillary carcinoma of the breast, also known as intraductal papillary carcinoma—a rare type of breast cancer accounting for less than 1 percent of all invasive breast cancers. Symptoms There are two different types of intraductal papillomas, as well as one other condition that is closely related. Symptoms depend on which of these you have: Solitary intraductal papillomas: If you have just one intraductal papilloma, you may feel a small lump near or just beside a nipple. When a papilloma breaks a duct, it can cause a little clear or bloody nipple discharge.Multiple papillomas: These consist of groups of lumps that usually occur deeper inside your breast and can't easily be felt. They usually don't cause discharge.Papillomatosis: Papillomatosis consists of small groups of cells inside the ducts that aren't as distinct as papillomas are. The condition usually won't cause nipple discharge. Causes Anyone can develop an intraductal papilloma, but the condition is most common in women between the ages of 35 and 55. It usually develops naturally as the breast ages and changes. How Breasts Change With Age Diagnosis If you find a small lump near your nipple and see some discharge, talk to your doctor and try not to panic—chances are it's benign. Your doctor will want to do a clinical breast exam and also check to see if you're up-to-date on breast cancer screening. An Overview of Nipple Discharge The two of you may decide that you want to have the fluid tested. If the lump is large enough for you to easily feel it, a needle biopsy may be done to obtain a tissue sample. To begin this procedure, a patient must squeeze a small bit of discharge from the nipple, so that the radiologist can see exactly which duct is leaking. Once the duct is found, the radiologist gently inserts a very fine, hollow needle into the duct and injects some contrast fluid into the duct network. This contrast fluid will show up on a mammogram and trace the related ducts. The resulting image may help to reveal the cause of your nipple discharge. Sometimes, a ductogram or galactogram, imaging studies that are done specifically on the milk duct system, can be performed to help find papillomas. There are many different presentations of nipple discharge, as well as many potential causes. While precancers and cancers can be to blame, they rarely actually are. Treatment Intraductal papillomas can be surgically removed if they prove bothersome. A small incision is made along the edge of your areola, then the papilloma and its duct are removed. The resulting scar can be nearly undetectable. Breast Cancer Risk Solitary intraductal papillomas don't ordinarily increase your risk of developing breast cancer unless they contain regions of atypical hyperplasia. This is a precancerous condition where there are more cells lining the duct than would normally be there, and some of the cells are irregular in shape and size. If you have multiple papillomas or papillomatosis, your risk for developing breast cancer is slightly increased. Ask your doctor if they would recommend breast cancer screening above and beyond the general guidelines moving forward. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Li A, Kirk L. Intraductal Papilloma. [Updated 2020 Jan 10]. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Ko D, Kang E, Park SY, et al. The Management Strategy of Benign Solitary Intraductal Papilloma on Breast Core Biopsy. Clin Breast Cancer. 2017;17(5):367-372. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2017.03.016 Debnath D, Al-okati D, Ismail W. Multiple Papillomatosis of Breast and Patient's Choice of Treatment. Patholog Res Int. 2010;2010:540590. doi:10.4061/2010/540590 Han SH, Kim M, Chung YR, et al. Benign Intraductal Papilloma without Atypia on Core Needle Biopsy Has a Low Rate of Upgrading to Malignancy after Excision. J Breast Cancer. 2018;21(1):80-86. doi:10.4048/jbc.2018.21.1.80 Berná-serna JD, Torres-ales C, Berná-mestre JD, Polo L. Role of galactography in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Breast Care (Basel). 2013;8(2):122-6. doi:10.1159/000350779 Khan S, Diaz A, Archer KJ, et al. Papillary lesions of the breast: To excise or observe?. Breast J. 2018;24(3):350-355. doi:10.1111/tbj.12907 Additional Reading American Cancer Society. Intraductal Papillomas of the Breast. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/non-cancerous-breast-conditions/intraductal-papillomas.html Li A, Kirk L. Intraductal Papilloma. StatPearls Publishing. 2019.