AXILLARY BREAST-TISSUE - CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND SURGICAL-TREATMENT

Aberrant breast tissue is usually present along the milk line above or below the normal breast location, Occasionally, it is found in unusua l locations, such as the axilla, scapula, thigh, and labia majora, Acc essory axillary breast tissue is present in approximately 2% to 6% of women. Although this finding has been reported in a variety of clinica l journals, such as Radiology and Human Pathology, it has received lit tle attention in the plastic surgery literature, Axillary breast tissu e, presenting as palpable thickenings in the axilla, can undergo month ly premenstrual changes, such as tenderness and swelling, difficulty w ith shoulder range of motion, and irritation from clothing, These symp toms may be exacerbated and become more apparent during puberty and pr egnancy. In addition, it is cosmetically unsightful, and consequently, patients often desire surgery for improvement, We present a study of 28 patients who underwent surgical removal of their axillary breast ti ssue. From these successful reports, we recommend that axillary breast tissue should be surgically removed.