Macromastia and bilateralaxillary breast hypertrophy: a case report

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Endocrinology
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• Breast hypertrophy, or macromastia, involves abnormal breast enlargement due to glandular tissue, fatty tissue, or both.
• This condition can manifest unilaterally or bilaterally, often presenting during puberty or later.
• Gigantomastia represents an extreme form of breast hypertrophy, posing significant physical and psychological challenges.

Observation:

• A 26-year-old Nigerian woman presented with massive bilateral breast hypertrophy and axillary breast tissue enlargement, persisting for six years.
• The patient experienced considerable psychological distress secondary to the extreme breast size.
• Breast ultrasonography revealed diffuse swelling without identifiable masses or calcifications.

Findings:

• Surgical intervention included bilateral axillary breast tissue excision and bilateral breast amputation with nipple-areola complex grafting.
• The total weight of excised breast tissue was an unprecedented 44.8 kilograms, highlighting the severity of the macromastia.
• Post-operative recovery and outcome were reported as satisfactory, despite the extreme nature of the condition.

Implications:

• This case represents one of the largest recorded instances of gigantomastia in medical literature.
• Surgical management is effective for severe macromastia, significantly improving patient quality of life.
• Further research into the etiology and management of extreme breast hypertrophy is warranted.