Serous or blood from the nipple - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Serum or nipple blood secretion is a symptom that can occur in male individuals or in women outside the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

This manifestation can occur spontaneously or only in response to breast manipulation.

The secreted material can be transparent or yellow, white or greenish; this feature, however, is not useful to understand if it is an anomalous or harmless sign. The blood secretion from the nipple of a woman or man is never, however, to be considered normal. For this reason, it is better to investigate the causes of this event by contacting your doctor.

The serous and blood secretions from the nipple can be associated with numerous diseases.

The most serious condition related to this sign is breast cancer (usually intraductal carcinoma or invasive ductal carcinoma). In most cases, however, the cause is benign.

The release of a milky serum (or similar to colostrum) may depend on non-puerperal galactorrhoea (note: milk secretion is considered a physiological event during gestation, up to 6 months after birth or after stopping breastfeeding). Often, this phenomenon is due to a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma (prolactinoma), a hormone that at high levels stimulates the glandular tissue of the breast.

Other possible causes of hyperprolactinemia-galactorrhea include hypothalamic tumors and endocrine disorders, such as acromegaly, thyrotoxicosis, primary hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease. In some cases, fluid secretion can result from prolonged and intense stimulation of the nipples during sexual activity.

Serous or blood nipple discharge from the nipple may be due to benign ductal pathologies (eg intraductal papilloma, obstruction of the breast ducts and fibrocystic alterations), abscesses or sinus infections. Among these causes, intraductal papilloma is the most frequent reason for unilateral blood or serum emulsion, in the absence of a breast mass.