Occurrence of supernumerary nipples in children with kidney and urinary tract malformations

The reported data on the association of kidney and urinary tract malformati ons with supernumerary nipples are contradictory. We examined 200 children, ages 1 month-16 years, who were being followed because of recurrent urinar y tract infection for supernumerary nipples. The patients were divided into two groups: those who were found to have urinary tract malformations on ra diographic studies (n = 92) and those who were not (n = 108). All children were examined for any abnormal pigmentation along the milk line, and the en tire body was examined for ectopic supernumerary nipples. Two of the childr en with proved urinary tract pathology and two of the children with no urin ary tract pathology had supernumerary nipples. The odds ratio for having su pernumerary nipples among the first group was 1.18 (95% Cl: 0.084-16.53, p = 0.627). Our results indicate no association between kidney and urinary tr act malformations and supernumerary nipples. We believe the message to the practicing physician is that there is no need for radiographic or ultrasono graphic investigation of the urinary tract in asymptomatic children found t o have supernumerary nipples on routine physical examination.