Congenital abnormalities of the breast

Section: Breast Curriculum: Curriculum, page 9

Supernumerary nipples

• Polythelia
• Usually seen below breast and above umbilicus
• Can appear at any point along milk streak
• Axilla to groin
• Vary in nature
• Usually just rudimentary
• Can include glandular tissue
• Can cause irritation if in bra line and need excision

Accessory Breast Tissue

• Usually found in axilla
• Becomes more prominent in pregnancy
• Mx
  • Usually reassurance all that is needed
  • Try to avoid resection unless very symptomatic
  • Difficult to excise cosmetically
  • Surgery associated with major morbidity
  • Like normal breast tissue, a host of benign and malignant conditions can develop in this tissue

Breast Hypoplasia

• Failure of development
• Single or bilateral(rare)
• Aetiology:
  • Congenital/genetic
    • Poland’s syndrome
      • Ulnar-mammary syndrome
  • Acquired
    • Iatrogenic, trauma, radiotherapy
• Can be associated with tuberous breasts
  • Constricting ring at base limits vertical and horizontal growth
• Management
  • Depends on degree of deformity
  • Can reconstruct, expand, flap, lipofill

Poland’s Syndrome

• Group of conditions associated with absence or hypoplasia of:
  • Pectoralis Major
  • Chest wall
  • Varying degrees of Syndactyly
• Incidence
  • Rare
  • Usually only partial in nature
  • M > F