POLYTHELIA PILOSA - A PARTICULAR FORM OF ACCESSORY MAMMARY TISSUE

Background: The old Kajawa classification which considered eight possi ble forms of aberrant mammary tissue has been recently modified into a simpler one that considers this condition only when there is glandula r parenchyma or when the aberrant tissue is not a glandular tissue but a nipple, an areola or both. This new classification disregards 'poly thelia pilosa' defined as an 'isolated patch of hairs only'. Objective : To demonstrate that polythelia pilosa is at least a marker of subjac ent accessory mammary tissue and, consequently, that the term should b e incorporated into the current classification. Methods: Among 72 case s of aberrant or accessory mammary tissue, we have studied 14 cases (7 men and 7 women) that were clinically diagnosed as 'visible isolated patches of hairs, apparently without pigmentation nor structures of ar eola or nipple'. We excised such isolated patches in 3 women. Results: The histopathological examination showed an acanthotic and hyperpigme nted epithelium with central depression closed by keratin plugs; in th e dermis there were follicles with hairs surrounded by hypertrophic se baceous glands. In the deepest portion, abundant secretory glomerules and excretory duels of apocrine gland type could be observed. Conclusi on: Since the biopsy of isolated patches of hairs demonstrated structu res of either areolar or apocrine glandular tissue, we think that the term 'polythelia pilose' should be reinstated into the classification as it is at least a marker of true aberrant mammary structures in men and hirsute women.