Atypical cells significantly increase the risk of breast cancer development. This procedure is important news for high-risk women and their physicians who are searching for ways to understand their current risk of developing breast cancer.
Ductal lavage is premised on the fact that most breast cancers originate in the ductal systems.
Atypical cells have been shown to increase relative risk of breast cancer development by five to 18 times depending on family history status. It is not known whether all atypical cells progress to breast cancer, however the risk implications are clear. The Gail Index is further limited in that it assesses a woman's breast cancer risk based on population statistics, rather than on current, individualized, biological information about her breast health. Ductal lavage provides physicians with the ability to collect large numbers of cells for cytological evaluation and real-time biological assessment of breast cancer risk. This information is currently being used by oncologists, breast cancer surgeons, and their patients to weigh management options such as ongoing surveillance and risk reduction drug therapy.