Patchy areolar hyperpigmentation 6 years after augmentation mastopexy: a case report

A 42-year-old primigravida woman of 20 weeks gestation was referred to the authors for the treatment of a suspected malignant melanoma of her left areola. She had undergone bilateral augmentation mammoplasty with periareolar mastopexy elsewhere 6 years previously. Her history included partial necrosis of her left areola in the immediate postoperative period that required a long time to heal and had resulted in partial areolar depigmentation. Her left areola had a few patches of hyperpigmentation at her presentation to the authors. Specimens removed from eight involved areas showed a tissue diagnosis of benign areolar melanosis. The hyperpigmentation completely disappeared after delivery. This case is reported because of its rarity as well as its nonmalignant and self-resolving nature.

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