Advances in fibreoptic ductoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of pathologic papillary overflow.

Fibreoptic mammography is widely recognised as the first screening method for pathologic papillary overflow due to its significant advantages in the diagnosis of ductal dilatation, intraductal papilloma and intraductal carcinoma. The use of fibreoptic ductoscopic excisional biopsy techniques, such as biopsy needles, vacuum negative pressure aspiration, biopsy forceps and grasping baskets, has not been promoted largely due to their existing deficiencies. The imaging effect of fibreoptic ductoscopy compared with electronic ductoscopy is also one of the important factors limiting the progress of microscopic excisional biopsy techniques. Finding a more suitable operating space for electronic fibreoptic ductoscopy and the use of electrosurgical excision biopsy techniques should be the focus of research in view of achieving accurate diagnoses in electronic fibreoptic ductoscopy and microscopic excision biopsy. In this review, the development history, clinical application and existing problems of fibreoptic ductoscopy are reviewed and assessed to provide references for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pathologic papillary overflow.