Inside a milk duct

Lactiferous duct (milk-producing duct) endoscopy is performed to detect, identify, diagnose and treat micro cancerous and pre-cancerous malignant breast disease.

To make this possible surgeons require highly complex, delicate equipment that allows crystal clear visualisation of ducts with the breast. UK BIOPSY ductoscopes are powered by the world’s leading technology engineered precisely by experts in Germany.

This remarkable technology is not limited to mammary ducts but can also be implemented for salivary ducts, lacrimal ducts and many others.

We give interested surgeons the opportunity to train for such procedures using our high tech equipment. UK BIOPSY's primary goal is to reduce the number of potentially severe conventional surgeries by early diagnosis and prompt treatment through effective utilisation of this technology.

A range of mini endoscopes (ductoscopes) are available through UK BIOPSY's in partnership with Matrics Medical GmbH, Germany - pioneers of powerful endoscopes.

Why Ductoscopy?

The beginning of early, pre-cancerous growth originates within the lactiferous ducts within the human female breast. Conventional techniques such as mammography, ultrasound and MRI do not have the necessary resolution to look inside these mini ducts. As a result they may miss smaller lesions of the breast that are <5mm in diameter. The interval time for a breast lesion to grow to 5mm is approximately ten years. During this time, if the breast disease is not detected, it can become more invasive and possibly quite extensive. It is important to capture the development of such lesions and metastases before invasion to surrounding tissues as this can be critical. It is through the effective utilisation of UK Surgical ductoscopes early detection and treatment is possible.

Procedure

This is carried out by a qualified breast specialist surgeon who has had the required training to use a ductoscope. The sympathetic duct must be first identified and then identifies fluid-expression at the surface of the nipple by massaging the breast. The duct is then dilated using a particular device e.g. SOLEX^® (Soft Lumen Expander) to prepare the duct for insertion of the ductoscope. The micro ductoscope is then inserted and gently advanced through the duct. During this time real-time visualisation inside the duct is seen on the screen where the image is displayed. This is possible because the endoscope is connected to a special advanced light source (for illumination inside the ducts) and a fast shutter digital camera (for visualisation). The ductoscope has a built in optical component to make all this possible. The surgeon may also decide to take a biopsy (intra-ductal biopsy) of the lesion should this be necessary.

Breast Endoscopy may help guide your surgeon toward maximum conservation of your breast by identifying the location of abnormal tissue.

 

 

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