Rusty pipe syndrome, a little-known cause of breast discharge

We present the case of a 25-year-old primiparous woman who presented with a haemorrhagic discharge through the nipple in the immediate postpartum period (Fig. 1). The discharge was bilateral and multiorifice, and resolved spontaneously. Rusty pipe syndrome is a benign cause of haematic breast discharge that occurs in some women after immediate postpartum. It differs from some similar infections in that it occurs later. It appears to be caused by increased vascularisation of the alveoli and ducts. If it persists for more than a week, other causes should be investigated.

Figure 1