Increasing retrievable cells from a breast duct
The invention provides methods that increase retrievable cells from ductal fluid of a patient. Ductal fluid typically contains ductal epithelial cells and other markers that can aid in identifying a breast condition, including breast cancer and precancer.
1. A method for increasing a retrievable cell amount in a breast duct comprising the steps of:
applying vibration internally to a breast duct sufficient to induce cell sloughing within said breast duct and;
collecting said sloughed cells from said breast duct;
wherein applying vibration to said breast duct increases the retrievable amount of cells collected from said breast duct.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said vibration is produced by ultrasound.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said vibration is combined with heat and/or massage.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said retrievable cell amount is collected through ductal lavage.