Galactorrhea

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Galactorrhoea-Hyperprolactinaemia; hyperlactation; hyperprolactinaemia; lactation, increased; galactorrhea-hyperprolactinemia

Overview

Galactorrhea or galactorrhoea is the spontaneous flow of milk from the breast, unassociated with childbirth or nursing. Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care defines galactorrhea as “nipple discharge.” ^[1]

Causes

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Chemical/Poisoning	Licorice
Dental	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	Shingles
Drug Side Effect	Alimemazine, Amisulpride, Amoxapine, Antihypertensive medication, Antipsychotics, Birth control , Chlorpromazine, Cimetidine, Deserpidine, Domperidone, Dutetrabenazine, Ethinylestradiol, Fluoxetine, Flupentixol, Haloperidol, Levomepromazine, Loxapine , Methyldopa, Methyldopate, Metoclopramide, Olanzapine, Oral contraceptives, Paliperidone, Paroxetine , Perazine, Phenothiazines, Pimozide, Pipothiazine, Reserpine, Risperidone, Tetrabenazine, Trifluperidol, Verapamil, Zotepine
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	Anterior pituitary hyperhormonotrophic syndrome , Cushing disease, Excessive prolactin , Forbes-albright syndrome , Hyperoestrogenic states, Hypothyroidism, Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Pineal tumour, Pituitary adenomas, Pituitary cancer
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	Shingles
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic	No underlying causes
Neurologic	Craniopharyngiomas, Intracranial space-occupying lesion, Meningoencephalitis
Nutritional/Metabolic	Insulin receptor defect with insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus
Obstetric/Gynecologic	Ahumada-del castillo syndrome , Breast feeding, Breast stimulation, Chest wall stimulation, Chiari-frommel syndrome , Excessive prolactin , Metastatic breast carcinoma, Nipple stimulation, Pregnancy, Prolactin overproduction, Prolactinomas
Oncologic	Craniopharyngiomas, Forbes-albright syndrome , Metastatic breast carcinoma, Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Neoplasm, Pineal tumour, Pituitary adenomas, Pituitary cancer , Prolactinomas
Ophthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity	Opiates, Opioids
Psychiatric	Stress
Pulmonary	Sarcoidosis
Renal/Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy	Sarcoidosis
Sexual	Nipple stimulation, Sexual intercourse
Trauma	Head trauma, Physical exertion
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

Differentiating Galactorrhea from other Diseases

In alphabetical order. ^[2] ^[3]

Drugs– Estropipate, Haloperidol,Iloperidone, Trifluoperazine
Fibrocystic Disease
Hyperprolactinemia
Idiopathic (with menses)
Inflammation
Intraductal papilloma
Malignant neoplasm
Oral contraceptives
Recently preceded pregnancy
Trauma

References

↑ Ladewig, P., London, M., Davidson, M. (2006). Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care (6th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN 0131703927.
↑ Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016
↑ Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X

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[1] Ladewig, P., London, M., Davidson, M. (2006). Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care (6th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN 0131703927.

[2] Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016

[3] Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X

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