BREAST AND PECTORALIS-MUSCLE HYPOPLASIA - A MILD DEGREE OF POLAND SYNDROME

Purpose: Poland's syndrome is a congenital and unilateral aplasia of t he pectoralis major muscle (PMM), with other anomalies of the ipsilate ral upper extremity. We present 6 cases in which the only clinical exp ression was asymmetry of the breasts associated with partial absence o f the PMM. Material and Methods: We reviewed 95000 mammograms (obtaine d 1985-1995) to find patients with asymmetrical breast size. Where the asymmetry could not be ascribed to any other cause, the patients were recalled for an examination of the PMM which was conducted at rest an d with active contraction of the muscle. Results: Unilateral volume re duction of the PMM was found in 5 women of whom 2 were studied with MR . A 6th case was a fortuitous finding in a male patient. Conclusion: M ild forms of Poland's syndrome are more frequent than severe forms, an d may go undiagnosed. Hypoplasia of one breast or a horizontal anterio r axillary fold may be the sole clinical manifestation of this syndrom e.