[Benign cutaneous lymphadenosis (Bäfverstedt's disease) of the nipple (author's transl)]

Benign circumscribed cutaneous lymphadenosis of the areola of the nipple (Bäfverstedt's disease) occurs in children and adults. We observed 11 cases: 3 men, 3 children and 6 women. The areola undergoes rapid swelling and becomes red. At times the nipple itself is included. Unilateral enlargment and distortion of the nipple area becomes apparent. Sometimes this is associated with a tumor-like infiltration of the retro-mammillary tissue. In Contradistinction to Pagets disease of the nipple and to a mammillary adenoma there is no eczema and no ulceration. The clinical features and the typical pruritic course establish the diagnosis. Healing is spontaneous, but protracted. The aetiology is probably of an inflammatory nature. Treatment with short courses of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents resulted in a faster reduction of the cutaneous signs and corroborated the clinical diagnosis. We consider surgical treatment as unnecessary because circumscript benign lymphadenosis of the nipple area has a harmless course.