Gestational gigantomastia with fatal outcome

Gestational Gigantomastia: Case Report and Review of Treatment Options

Gestational gigantomastia is a rare and devastating condition involving rapid and excessive enlargement of the breast tissue during pregnancy or postpartum. We review the workup, assessment, and care of a patient with gestational gigantomastia with superimposed mastitis. Conservative treatment, medical management, and surgical options should be explored with patients. It is also important for providers to be cognizant of the psychological impact of this condition.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Clinical Presentation, Management, and Outcome of Gestational Gigantomastia in the 21st Century

BACKGROUND

Gestational gigantomastia (GG) is an uncommon pregnancy condition, and the underlying cause of GG has yet to be determined. Medical management and surgery are two treatment options for GG, and breast reduction or mastectomy with delayed reconstruction is the only available surgical option. We have conducted this systematic review to summarize and critically analyze all the GG data in the literature.

METHODS

The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were adhered to in reporting this article. A systematic search was conducted in February 2022 for published case reports and case series on GG using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases. The following keywords were used: macromastia, gestational gigantomastia, and gestational.

RESULTS

A total of 639 articles were searched, and only 66 case reports published between 1962 and 2022 were included. The mean patient's age at presentation was 28.79 years old. The majority of the patients were in their first trimester (n = 23, 47%). The main complaint was rapid bilateral breast enlargement (n = 54, 80.59%). Bromocriptine was the most common medical management used (n = 19/35, 54.28%). Bilateral breast reduction was the most common surgery (n = 24/48, 50%). Most patients had uneventful recovery (n = 40/54, 74.07%).

CONCLUSION

Gigantomastia is a difficult condition, in terms of its management. We have found that surgery is the gold-standard among all the cases reported; while Bromocriptine was the most commonly administered medical therapy. This systematic review provides a guideline for plastic surgeons to better facilitate their care of these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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Gestational gigantomastia-a rare entity complicated by life-threatening haemorrhage

Gestational gigantomastia is a psychologically and physically debilitating disease of unknown aetiology. Underlying diseases that present as gigantomastia should be excluded by a thorough workup. Most cases respond to the preferred approach: conservative management, as foetal viability and well-being is of significant importance. However, in those cases where the maternal mortality is at risk, the surgical approach is preferred. Life-threatening haemorrhage may occur and early recognition and treatment is paramount to outcome. A case of gestational gigantomastia complicated by life-threatening haemorrhage is presented and discussed.