What Is a Ductoscopy?

Dr. Anne Rosenberg answers the question: 'What Is a Ductoscopy?'

ByABC News
September 24, 2007, 11:12 AM

— -- Question:What is a ductoscopy?

Answer: Because 85 percent or better of the breast cancers that we see begin in the duct, it's become increasingly important to try to find other complimentary tests to mammography to help us figure out where in the duct or which ducts might be involved with disease processes.

So we are introducing a technique called ductoscopy. This is where a tiny fiberoptic camera is introduced into the duct itself and is then manipulated to look at the internal lining of the duct so that you can pick up some small cancers, some other benign changes; and hopefully by using it, we'll be able to tell women if in fact there is a problem in the lining of the duct.

Next: What is Laser Optoacoustic Imaging and How is it Used?

Previous: What Tests Show If My Breast Cancer Has Spread?