Fibroadenoma in axillary accessory breast tissue: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Accessory breast(s) is defined as the presence of more than two breasts with or without a nipple and areola in human beings. It may occur anywhere along the primitive embryonic milk lines, which extend from the axilla to the groin. Accessory breast tissue can potentially undergo the same physiological and pathological processes as the normally located breast, including lactational change, fibroadenoma, and carcinoma. Although common in the normally located breast tissue, the incidence of fibroadenoma in accessory breast tissue is rare. Furthermore, if the swelling occurs in the axilla or groin, it may present a diagnostic challenge by clinically mimicking a lymphoma or other causes of lymphadenopathy. Owing to its rarity and its tendency to pose a clinical diagnostic challenge, we decided to report a case of fibroadenoma in axillary accessory breast. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old Ethiopian female patient came to University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital with a complaint of left axillary swelling of 3 years duration. There was no history of cough, fever, weight loss, or night sweating. On physical examination, there was an approximately 5 × 4 cm, firm, well-defined, mobile, nontender solitary mass in the left axilla that was completely separated from the left breast. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested a diagnosis of fibroadenoma in axillary accessory breast tissue. The mass was completely excised, and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis. Her recovery was uneventful. She was informed about the diagnosis, reassured, and discharged from care. CONCLUSION: In the clinical evaluation of a patient with axillary swelling, accessory breast tissue disorders such as fibroadenoma must be considered as a differential diagnosis for early diagnostic workup and management. Moreover, this case underscores the fact that, similar to normal breast tissue, accessory breast tissue is also susceptible to the same pathologic disease processes including neoplasms such as fibroadenoma.

Surgery for fibroadenoma arising from axillary accessory breast.

BACKGROUND: Patients with fibroadenomas in axillary accessory breasts (AABs) have a palpable mass, cyclic axillary pain, and aesthetic concerns that must be addressed. We compared the baseline patient characteristics, AAB characteristics, and surgical outcomes of patients with AABs with and without fibroadenomas undergoing surgical excision. We also monitored the patients for recurrence of axillary fibroadenomas. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 2310 women who underwent AAB excision from 2014 to 2019. Patients with and without a palpable fibroadenoma were divided into a fibroadenoma group and non-fibroadenoma group, respectively. All patients underwent complete excision of accessory mammary gland (AMG) tissue, including fibroadenomas in the AABs. We removed the fibroadenoma and the AMG tissue with a minimal axillary incision. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients had a palpable fibroadenoma in the AAB, and all patients in the fibroadenoma group had cyclic axillary pain and a palpable axillary mass. There were no significant differences in the patients' age, weight of the AMG tissue, liposuction volume, or fibroadenoma laterality between the two groups. The body mass index in the fibroadenoma group was lower than that in the non-fibroadenoma group (19.9 vs. 22.3 kg/m2, respectively; P < 0.000). Concurrent fibroadenoma excision in a normal breast on the chest was performed more often in the fibroadenoma group than in the non-fibroadenoma group (35.9% (14/39) vs. 4.1% (92/2271), respectively; P < 0.000). The mean fibroadenoma size was 2.1 cm (range, 1.1-9.1 cm). All patients were satisfied with the degree of postoperative pain relief, disappearance of palpable lesions, and cosmetic improvement. No patients developed fibroadenoma recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Complete excision of the AMG tissue and fibroadenoma is appropriate in patients with an AAB with a fibroadenoma. Surgeons should also consider the high incidence of concurrent fibroadenomas in the normal breasts on the chest.

Efficacy of Two-Step Surgery on Severely Protruding Axillary Accessory Breast: First-Step Mammary Gland Excision Followed by Second-Look Redundant Skin Excision.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of axillary accessory breasts (AABs) vary among patients. Mildly protruding AABs do not require skin excision, whereas severely protruding AABs might. We report a novel technique that includes mammary gland excision followed 6 months later by second-look redundant skin excision, if necessary. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this two-step surgical approach and compared it with one-step en bloc resection in severely protruding AAB patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 834 women who underwent AAB excision during 2017-2019. AABs were classified according to their external appearance: protruding, palpable accessory breast at an obtuse angle (class I) or an acute angle with accompanying skinfold (class II). Class II was further divided according to the excision technique: one-step en bloc resection (n = 36) or two-step resection (n = 42). Patients completed post hoc satisfaction surveys evaluating appearance, axillary pain, and scar, 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 204 class II patients and 168 patients who underwent a two-step approach; 42/168 underwent second-look skin excision, and 126/168 underwent one-step gland excision exclusively. The remaining 36 patients underwent one-step resection. Scars measured 4.3 cm in the second-look group versus 6.4 cm in the one-step group (P < 0.000). Overall satisfaction scores were higher in the second-look group versus the one-step group (13.6 vs. 12.3, respectively; P < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: For severely protruding AABs, mammary gland excision with skin preservation comprises the first operation, and second-look skin excision can be considered 6 months later. This procedure avoids overtreatment and potentially increases patient satisfaction compared with one-step en bloc excision. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Fibroadenoma in axillary accessory breast: a case report

The mass are among the possible alterations observed in the axilla. When found, the most frequent differential diagnosis are lymphadenopathy, metastatic lymphadenomegaly, lymphoma, lipoma or tumors in the apocrine glands. Besides that, the presence of accessory breast tissue must also be considered and, as the topical breast tissue, can be the target of breast diseases, either benign or malignant. Female patient, 23 years old, with the presence of hardened palpable node in the right axilla. At the ultrasound, it presented characteristics that classified it as Bi-Rads® 4. An aspiration biopsy of the node was performed with fine-needle, which resulted in unsatisfying material. After the explanation of the therapeutic choices, the patient opted for the excision of the axillary node. The anatomical pathological result showed a nodular formation compatible with fibroadenoma. The occurrence of a node in the axillary region is common. However, in the vast majority of times, it is merely an inflammatory response, manifested as a lymphadenomegaly. In case of chronic mass with suspicious characteristics, it is convenient to suspect the presence of lymphoid neoplasms, locoregional metastasis of breast cancer or melanoma and alterations in accessory breast tissue. In young patients, it is important to evaluate the existence of accessory breast tissue with the presence of suspicious axillary node, because, although controversial, some authors believe that such alterations occur more frequently in these patients. Additionally, in cases of inconclusive imaging, an excision of the lesion must be performed for a definite diagnosis.

Axillary Accessory Breast: Optimal Time for Operation.

BACKGROUND: Accessory breasts are usually located in the axilla. Symptoms associated with an axillary accessory breast (AAB) may newly develop or worsen after pregnancy. After childbirth, AAB engorgement and hyperplasia may occur due to milk formation. We evaluated the optimal time for AAB excision and assessed variations in clinical presentations and surgical outcomes associated with pregnancy. METHODS: In total, 540 women whose symptoms began from puberty and underwent AAB excision were retrospectively analyzed. Group 1 comprised 416 patients who underwent operations before pregnancy, and Group 2 comprised 124 patients who underwent operations after childbirth. AABs were classified according to the Damsoyu-Lee (DL) classification. Satisfaction was measured by pain and cosmesis 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Group 2 had more patients with severe symptoms [DL class II (n = 8, 6.5%) and III (n = 15, 12.1%)] than Group 1 (p = 0.049). The specimen weight and liposuction volume were greater in Group 2. The reoperation rate was also higher in Group 2 [loosening skin excision (n = 4, 3.2%) and remnant gland excision (n = 3, 2.4%)] (p = 0.032). In Group 2, 31 (25%) patients had AAB engorgement after childbirth and 7 (5.6%) had milk secretion from the accessory nipple after childbirth. The overall satisfaction score was lower in Group 2 than 1. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy may cause accessory breast gland hyperplasia. After childbirth, symptoms such as AAB engorgement and milk secretion from the accessory nipple may occur. The optimal timing for operation for AAB appears to be before the onset of pregnancy because of lower reoperation rates and greater patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Unusual presentation of multiple fibroadenomas in bilateral breasts and axillary accessory breast.

We report an extremely rare case with a total of 50 fibroadenomas simultaneously presented in bilateral breasts and left axillary accessory breast, up to 8 cm in size, in a 20 year-old Chinese woman. The histopathologic and immunophenotypic features of the fibroadenomas are described and possible underlying pathogenesis is discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first case with such a large number of bilateral multiple breast fibroadenomas in a young female reported in the literature.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Arising from Axillary Accessory Breast / 한국유방암학회지

As a consequence of the incomplete resolution of embryologic mammary ridges, ectopic breast tissue can be present anywhere along the "milk line", including the axillary region. Aberrant breast tissue can develop with any disease that affects the normal breast, including a breast carcinoma. A carcinoma of aberrant breast tissue is rare, but should still be investigated and treated properly with respect to other breast cancers in the embryonic milk-line. Herein is reported our recent experience of a carcinoma originating from aberrant breast tissue in the right axilla. An abnormal nodule around the periphery of the normal breast should be suspected as a breast carcinoma and differential diagnosis and properly treated.