Ce. Urbani et R. Betti, ACCESSORY MAMMARY TISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH CONGENITAL AND HEREDITARY NEPHROURINARY MALFORMATIONS, International journal of dermatology, 35(5), 1996, pp. 349-352
Background and Objectives, The association between polythelia (supernu
merary nipple) and kidney and urinary tract malformations (KUTM) is co
ntroversial. Some authors reported this association in newborns and in
fants. Case-control studies dealing with adult subjects are not found
in the literature. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequ
ency of the association between accessory mammary tissue (AMT) and con
genital and hereditary nephrourinary defects in an adult population co
mpared to a control group. Methods. The study was performed in 146 whi
te patients (123 men, 23 women) with AMT out of 2645 subjects consecut
ively referred to us for physical examination. The following investiga
tions were undertaken: ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen and
the kidneys, EGG, echocardiogram, roentgenogram of the vertebral colu
mn, urinalysis, and other laboratory tests. A sex- and age-matched con
trol group without any evidence of AMT or lateral displacement of the
nipples underwent the same examinations. Results. Kidney and urinary t
ract malformations were detected in 11 patients with ATM (nine men, tw
o women) and in one control. These data indicate a significantly highe
r frequency of KUTM in the AMT-affected patients compared to controls
(7.53% vs. 0.68%, P < 0.001). A broad spectrum of KUTM was discovered
in association with AMT: adult dominant polycystic kidney disease, uni
lateral renal agenesis, cystic renal dysplasia, familial renal cysts,
and congenital stenosis of the pyeloureteral joint, Conclusion. Access
ory mammary tissue offers an important clue for congenital and heredit
ary anomalies of the kidneys and urinary collecting systems. Patients
with AMT should, therefore, be extensively examined for the presence o
f occult nephrouropathies.