What are my surgery choices for intraductal papilloma?

Remove completely: Intraductal papilloma (ip) is the most common cause of bloody nipple discharge. They are usually noncancerous but can sometimes have abnormal cells or an early breast cancer. Once diagnosed on needle biopsy, they are usually completely removed with surgery. Since these are small, a small amount of tissue can be removed, so the breast is not deformed (also scar can be near nipple).

Remove or Watch: Typically, when a intraductal papilloma is diagnosed, it's via core biopsy. Many would, based on this diagnosis, recommend a surgical excision of the 'entire' lesion, to be sure there is not a papillay neoplasm present. This is certainly necessary with any atypia. Without atypia, there are some who would 'observe', repeating imaging studies every six months for 1-2 years.