women’s imaging

Galactography

What is a ductogram?

Galactography, also called ductography or contrast-assisted mammography, is canulation of a single breast duct with the installation of radiographic material into the duct with a small 30 gauge blunt cannula.

Each nipple has 12-15 duct openings. When a breast discharge is from one or possibly several ducts of the nipple, the duct can be identified and a small cannula inserted into it. Once in place a radiopaque (can be seen on mammography) material fills the ducts and outlines the internal structures providing a roadmap of the involved duct system on a mammogram image. The radiologist can interpret the way the material fills the ducts and determine if there is anything in them that could be causing the discharge. The mammography film can identify areas of blockage, small growths in the ducts or other irregularities. If an abnormality is found that needs surgical removal, the duct can then be filled with a dye to mark it.

What should i expect during the procedure?

You will feel some discomfort when the contrast is injected into the duct. This will only last for a few seconds. Once the contrast is in the duct system the technologist will take two images. This exam is done with digital mammography.

The normal scheduled time for this exam is one hour.

When will I receive the results?

The Radiologist will let you know the outcome at the end of the exam, and will also contact your physician with the results.

Service Locations

Galactography is available at Alamogordo Imaging Center, Breast Imaging Center, X-Ray Associates at Farmington and X-Ray Associates at Santa Fe.