FAMILIAL POLYTHELIA WITHOUT ASSOCIATED ANOMALIES

Of the many forms of supernumerary breast tissue, the most common form is the isolated presence of an accessory nipple, polythelia, While fa milial polythelia is recognized, it is extremely rare. In the past sev eral years, polythelia has been noted to be associated with nephrourol ogical anomalies. All reports of such a relationship are in random, no nfamilial cases of polythelia, We report three cases of polythelia in a family over two generations who had no urinary tract abnormalities, Discussion includes a comprehensive review of familiar polythelia and its association with renal anomalies, From this review, the associatio n of familiar polythelia with nephrourological abnormalities will be d elineated, Although in this report of a single family with polythelia we did not demonstrate any renal anomalies, we feel that a thorough ph ysical exam, urine analysis, and renal ultrasound should be pursued in any patient with a significant familial history of polythelia.