Accessory breast tissue in axilla: a case report

Abstract

Breasts are modified sweat glands which develop from th th mammary ridge (milk lines) during 5 or 6 week of fetal development. This milk line extends from axilla to inguinal area. Persistence of any other part of the original mammary ridge may result in a  upernumerary breast or nipple. This supernumerary breast conditions have familial as well as syndromic association. Though it is ectopic, there is also a high chance of inflammation and neoplastic transformation like normal breast tissue. A subset of ectopic mammary tissue, aberrant breast tissue may constitute a diagnostic challenge and is often misdiagnosed as lipoma, hybernoma, hidradenitis, follicular cyst, or lymphadenopathy. Due to cosmetic problems as well as neoplastic tendency local excision is the treatment of choice. A definitive diagnosis is drawn after the histopathological study. Thus aberrant breast tissue should be kept in mind while evaluating a case of axillary swelling & malignancy should be ruled out.