Accessory breast
{{short description|Condition of having an additional breast}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name = Accessory breast
| image = Polymastia of the Japanese Wellcome L0027954.jpg
| caption = A woman with several accessory breasts
|
| pronounce = no information
| field =
| synonyms =
| symptoms =
| complications =
| onset =
| duration =
| types =
| causes =
| risks =
| diagnosis =
| differential =
| prevention =
| treatment =
| medication =
| prognosis =
| frequency =
| deaths =
}}
Accessory breasts, also known as polymastia, supernumerary breasts, or mammae erraticae, is the condition of having an additional breast. These extra breasts may appear with or without nipples or areolae. The condition, a form of atavism, is most commonly observed in males and is generally harmless, often going untreated. However, in recent years, many affected women have had a plastic surgery operation to remove the additional breasts, for purely aesthetic reasons.
A related condition, in which extra nipples form, is called "supernumerary nipple" or "polythelia".
Presentation
In some cases, the accessory breast may not be visible at the surface. In these cases, it may be possible to distinguish their appearance from normal breast tissue with MRI.{{cite journal |vauthors=Laor T, Collins MH, Emery KH, Donnelly LF, Bove KE, Ballard ET |title=MRI appearance of accessory breast tissue: a diagnostic consideration for an axillary mass in a peripubertal or pubertal girl |journal=AJR Am J Roentgenol |volume=183 |issue=6 |pages=1779–81 |year=2004 |pmid=15547228 |doi=10.2214/ajr.183.6.01831779 |url=https://www.ajronline.org/doi/full/10.2214/ajr.183.6.01831779 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211218035011/https://www.ajronline.org/doi/full/10.2214/ajr.183.6.01831779 |archive-date=2021-12-18 |url-access=subscription }} In other cases, accessory breasts have been known to lactate, as illustrated in a drawing showing a child nursing at ectopic breast tissue on the lateral thigh.{{cite journal | title = Supernumerary Breast Tissue | journal = Southern Medical Journal | year = 2000 | volume =93 | pages =29–32 | url = http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410464_3 | doi =10.1097/00007611-200093010-00005 | access-date = Dec 30, 2008| last1 = Grossl | first1 = Norman A. }}
File:Woman feeding child from breast and leg, 1887 Wellcome L0006495.jpg
There is some evidence that the condition may be more common in Native American populations.{{cite journal |author =Emsen IM |title=Treatment with ultrasound-assisted liposuction of accessory axillary breast tissues |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00266-005-0160-7.pdf |journal=Aesthetic Plast Surg |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=251–2 |year=2006 |pmid=16547633 |doi=10.1007/s00266-005-0160-7|s2cid=21813839 }}
Cause
Polymastia typically occurs in the womb during the development. During normal development, breast tissue will develop along the milk line, and additional tissue will disintegrate and be absorbed into the body. Polymastia occurs when the additional tissue does not disintegrate before birth. This condition can be inherited.
See also
- {{section link|Artemis|As the Lady of Ephesus}} (fertility goddess with many breasts)
- Fleischer's syndrome
References
{{Reflist}}
- A Paper on the Appearance of Multiple Mammaries in Humans, R. Eghardt, Oxford University Press (1923)
- Weird Diseases, B. Hargreaves and M. Wallette, Emu Publishing (2007)
External links
{{Medical resources
| ICD10 = {{ICD10|Q|83|1|q|80}}
| ICD9 = {{ICD9|757.6}}
| ICDO =
| OMIM = 163700
| MedlinePlus =
| eMedicineSubj = derm
| eMedicineTopic = 735
| DiseasesDB =
}}
{{Congenital malformations and deformations of breast}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Accessory Breast}}