Mammary duct ectasia in adult females; risk factors for the disease, a case control study

INTRODUCTION: Mammary duct ectasia is a common clinical condition characterized by abnormal dilatation of the central milk ducts with chronic inflammation and fibrosis, it may affect one or both breasts. Patients may be completely asymptomatic or have mastalgia or nipple discharge which is usually from multiple ducts. It mostly affects females and is very rare in males. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case control study which included 236 females grouped into two equal groups, the first group were patients with duct ectasia compared and the other one apparently healthy females and both groups were compared regarding different characteristics. RESULTS: Most patients were young with a mean age of 35 years, a most of them were overweight (42.4%) and obese (33.1%). Most were menstruating (86.4%) with regular cycles (79.7%). Most patients had breast pain (67.8%), tenderness (54.2%), and no nodularity (98.3%). About 47.5% had nipple discharge mostly from multiple ducts (43.2%), 52.5% had no discharge. There was a significant correlation between the development of duct ectasia and each of marital status, lactational status, coffee consumption, pain, nodularity, and breast tenderness (P values 0.026, 0.016, 0.034, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.000). CONCLUSION: Duct ectasia is a very common complaint in females, it is commoner in overweight and obese females, married females and those with history of lactation. Coffee consumption may be a cause. The regularity of the menstruation has no correlation with its development. The presence of mastalgia, tenderness, and nodularity are highly suggestive for the disease.