What should you know about intraductal papilloma with apocrine metaplasia?

Metaplasia means that cells have changed in appearance or type in response to their local environment. Apocrine cells have distinctive features that a pathologist can recognise under the microscope. In this phrase, apocrine metaplasia is a description of the cells within the papilloma; it does not, by itself, describe an invasive cancer.

The rest of the pathology report matters. Terms about atypia, in-situ disease, margins, or an imaging-pathology mismatch may change the recommended next step. Your clinician can interpret the entire report alongside the scan and examination.

Ask for the pathology report in plain language and confirm whether the sample explains the imaging finding. Keep the report with your breast imaging records and attend the follow-up recommended by your clinician.

If more tissue is needed for clarification, a [Breast Biopsy](/treatments/diagnostics-and-imaging/breast-biopsy/) may be discussed. If excision is advised, [Breast Lump Excision](/treatments/breast-care/breast-lump-excision/) covers the general procedure.

Seek assessment for a new or enlarging lump, spontaneous bloody discharge, skin dimpling, or a new nipple change. After tissue sampling, contact the care team for increasing pain, redness, warmth, fever, pus-like drainage, or bleeding that persists.

Ask whether the report contains atypia or any other concerning feature, whether the imaging and tissue findings match, and whether monitoring, another sample, or excision is recommended.