The clinical picture of dilated ducts beneath the nipple frequently to be palpated as a doughy worm-like mass – the varicocele tumour of the breast

This paper describes clearly the classic dilating type of duct ectasia and lists all the relevant clinical features. The point is made that most of the conditions described, such as cysts or duct ectasia, do not require operative intervention. Attention is also drawn to the other classic features of duct ectasia, such as nipple retraction and inflammatory episodes. Bloodgood also draws attention to the fact that duct ectasia with periductal mastitis can closely mimic the signs of cancer.