Periductal Mastitis Women’s Clinic What is Periductal Mastitis? The breasts are made up of lobules (milk-producing glands) and ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple), which are surrounded by fatty tissue and supportive tissues. Sometimes the ducts under the nipple become inflamed and infected. This inflammation is periductal mastitis.
People who smoke may have an increased risk of being affected by periductal mastitis, because substances in cigarette smoke can damage the ducts behind the nipple. Nipple rings and piercing can increase the chances of infecton and make periductal mastitis more difficult to treat.
Periductal mastitis is non-cancerous. It can affect women of all ages but is more common in younger women.
Diagnosis After breast examination, mammogram (breast x-ray) and/ or ultrasound scan (which creates an image of the breast using highfrequency sound waves), may be ordered by your doctor, so that a definite diagnosis can be made.
Periductal mastitis can make the breasts feel hot and tender to the touch, and the skin may appear red. It can also result in discharge from the nipple. The fluid secreted can be either bloody or non-bloody. Periductal mastitis is a key cause of infection around the nipple and the infected ducts may feel painful. Sometimes a lump can be felt behind the nipple, or the tissue behind the nipple can become scarred. This can pull the nipple inwards so it eventually becomes inverted. An abscess (a collection of pus) may develop.
If the breast is very tender or if you are under the age of 35, you are more likely to have an ultrasound scan rather than a mammogram. This is because the breast tissue in younger women is too dense to give a clear image on a mammogram. If you have discharge from the nipple, especially if it is bloodstained, this may also be tested, to help confirm the diagnosis.