Breast base anomalies: Treatment strategy for tuberous breasts, minor deformities, and asymmetry

A variety of breast deformities of differing appearances can be grouped tog ether within an extensive syndrome that is characterized by anomalies of th e breast base and preferentially involves the lower quadrants. Tuberous bre asts are the most typical, but not the only, form of the deformity. The authors studied a series of 37 patients who bad breast surgery, and the y used a classification of three types: I, II, and III (in increasing order of severity). In type I breasts (minor form), only the lower medial quadra nt is deficient: in type II breasts, both lower quadrants are deficient; an d in type III breasts, all four quadrants are deficient. The study showed a predominance of minor forms (54 percent of breasts operated on) and of com binations including at least one minor form (81 percent of patients). Seven ty percent of women had a breast asymmetry of more than 100 g. Only 27 perc ent of breasts operated on were hypotrophic, 45 percent were of normal volu me, and 28 percent were hypertrophic. The authors propose a procedure to treat the minor forms of the deformity, using a mammaplasty with a superior pedicle and a lower lateral dermoglandu lar flap to fill the deficient lower medial quadrant. They define the indic ations of the classic techniques according to the type of deformity and str ess the frequent need for secondary revision.