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Bilateral supernumerary axillary breasts: a case report.
Khalid Mazine1, Abdesslam Bouassria2, Hicham Elbouhaddouti2
1General Surgery Department, Targuist Hospital, Al-hoceima, Morocco.
The Pan African Medical Journal
|October 29, 2020
Summary
Accessory breast tissue, often found in the axilla, is an uncommon condition that can mimic other masses. Early diagnosis is crucial as it shares pathology risks with normal breast tissue.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Accessory breast tissue (ABT), or polymastia, is a rare condition affecting 0.4-6% of women.
- It most commonly presents as bilateral axillary masses, often asymptomatic and mistaken for lipomas, especially during pregnancy or lactation.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old woman presented with painful bilateral axillary masses.
- Initial clinical diagnosis suggested bilateral lipomas.
Findings:
- Imaging and histopathological examination confirmed the masses as accessory breast tissue.
- This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and importance of considering ABT in axillary masses.
Implications:
- Accessory breast tissue can undergo pathological changes similar to normal breast tissue, including mastitis, fibrocystic disease, and carcinoma.
- Accurate diagnosis of ectopic breast tissue is essential for appropriate management and monitoring.
- Increased awareness among clinicians can improve diagnostic accuracy for this uncommon condition.
