Percutaneous Intradermal Purse-String closure for Correction of Male Tuberous Nipple-Areola Complex Deformity.

Abstract

Male tuberous breast is an exceedingly rare condition that not fit properly into the majority of existing classifications of gynecomastia. This deformity has been categorized by Cordova and Moschella as gynecomastia grade III; however, they do not make any reference to the isolated tuberous deformity of the nipple-areola complex (NAC). Considering that the areolar area is the main ''esthetic unit'' in the male chest, surgical correction of the isolated tuberous NAC deformity can be challenging. There is a belief that this deformity is unsuccessfully corrected when approached through a limited periareolar incision at the lower pole. A complete periareolar incision, with a concentric excision of excess areolar skin, is usually required leaving an unnatural-looking round periareolar scar on the male thorax. We describe a variation of a surgical technique for the correction of a male tuberous NAC deformity in a teenager who rejected a conspicuous round periareolar scar after surgery. This modification combines a conventional lower hemiareolar approach with a percutaneous intradermal purse-string suture in the superior areolar margin to reduce the areolar diameter, avoiding an evident circumareolar scar. At the six-month follow-up, areolar widening or tuberous deformity relapse was not observed. The patient felt satisfied with the outcome. The use of percutaneous intradermal purse-string periareolar suture for correction of this rare deformity is a simple and reproducible surgical technique that could help to obtain a better cosmetic result by restoring the contour of the male chest while minimizing the visibility of the residual scar. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .