Newly Identified Gross Human Anatomy: Eight Paired Vestigial Breast Mounds Run along the Embryological Mammary Ridges in Lean Adults

Although isolated accessory breasts have been reported in many locations on the torso, we noted that lean men presenting for liposuction had mounds of fullness in a curvilinear array (axilla to groin) consistent with the configuration of the embryological mammary ridge. We hypothesized that grid mapping and pinch testing would elucidate the pattern of fullness and its relation to the "milk line."

METHODS

Twenty lean participants (10 men, 10 women) each underwent standardized photography and grid mapping of anterior torsos. We then pinch-tested each for subcutaneous fullness in 250 standardized loci. We used plotted pinch values and OLS regression models to determine if focal fullness corresponded to published configurations of the embryologic mammary ridge.

RESULTS

We identified a pattern of paired mounds in all participants running bilaterally in curved linear arrays from axillae to groin in the exact form of milk lines. Regression models applied to the male and female pinch data indicated that focal thickness matched mammary ridge configurations in all subjects (P = 0.023 for men, <0.001 for women). Fatty fullness never appeared elsewhere on the anterior torsos.

CONCLUSIONS

The linear pattern of paired focal fat mounds present on the anterior torsos is consistent with the paths of embryological mammary ridges, suggesting these focal fat pads are of breast origin. The consistent mounds are distinct from general subcutaneous fullness and therefore represent a new finding of gross human anatomy. We recommend further research to define differential physiology of distinct subpopulations of yellow fat and clinical implications.

[Pathology of the nipple-areola complex : Part II. Tumors, tumor-like lesions, and supernumerary breast lesions]

The nipple-areola complex is the origin of various morphologically distinct tumors and tumor-like lesions, which can be delineated from the special structures of the nipple, in particular the intramammary ducts, skin-appendages, and the intramammary stroma. Benign tumors are most frequent and this includes epithelial tumors such as mammary adenoma and syringomatous tumor of the nipple. Less commonly observed are benign mesenchymal tumors such as leiomyoma of the nipple, or tumor-like lesions like pseudo-lymphoma. With excess formations of the nipple, the different forms of polythelia and polymastia have to be considered.

Nipple adenoma in a female patient presenting with persistent erythema of the right nipple skin: case report, review of the literature, clinical implications, and relevancy to health care providers who evaluate and treat patients with dermatologic conditions of the breast skin

Background

Nipple adenoma is a very uncommon, benign proliferative process of lactiferous ducts of the nipple. Clinically, it often presents as a palpable nipple nodule, a visible nipple skin erosive lesion, and/or with discharge from the surface of the nipple skin, and is primarily seen in middle-aged women. Resultantly, nipple adenoma can clinically mimic the presentation of mammary Paget’s disease of the nipple. The purpose of our current case report is to present a comprehensive review of the available data on nipple adenoma, as well as provide useful information to health care providers (including dermatologists, breast health specialists, and other health care providers) who evaluate patients with dermatologic conditions of the breast skin for appropriately clinically recognizing, diagnosing, and treating patients with nipple adenoma.

Case presentation

Fifty-three year old Caucasian female presented with a one year history of erythema and induration of the skin of the inferior aspect of the right nipple/areolar region. Skin punch biopsies showed subareolar duct papillomatosis. The patient elected to undergo complete surgical excision with right central breast resection. Final histopathologic evaluation confirmed nipple adenoma. The patient is doing well 31 months after her definitive surgical therapy.

Conclusions

Since nipple adenoma represents a benign proliferative process of the nipple, complete surgical excision is curative. However, the coexistence of nipple adenoma and ipsilateral or contralateral breast cancer is well reported in the literature. The potential for a direct causal link or association of nipple adenoma and breast cancer cannot be fully excluded.

Nipple adenoma arising from axillary accessory breast: a case report

Nipple adenoma is a relatively rare benign breast neoplasm, and cases of the disease arising from the axillary accessory breast have very seldom been reported in the English literature. We report a case of nipple adenoma arising from axillary accessory breast including clinical and pathological findings. An 82-year-old woman presented with the complaint of a small painful mass in the right axilla. Physical examination confirmed a well-defined eczematous crusted mass that was 8 mm in size. The diagnosis of nipple adenoma was made from an excisional specimen on the basis of characteristic histological findings. Microscopic structural features included a compact proliferation of small tubules lined by epithelial and myoepithelial cells, and the merging of glandular epithelial cells of the adenoma into squamous epithelial cells in the superficial epidermal layer. Because clinically nipple adenoma may resemble Paget’s disease and pathologically can be misinterpreted as tubular carcinoma, the correct identification of nipple adenoma is an important factor in the differential diagnosis for axillary tumor neoplasms.