Rare findings in ectopic breast tissue: A case study of 7 patients

Abstract

BackgroundEctopic Breast Tissue is a rare condition; it can be present anywhere along the milk line during adult life. Although rare, pathological conditions including breast carcinoma or benign breast disease can occur in Ectopic breast tissue. AimIdentify the most proper approach to the management of malignant conditions affecting ectopic breast tissue. Patients and methodsA prospective cohort study including 7 patients who presented with a mass in their Ectopic Breast Tissue visited the breast clinic and general surgery clinic at Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital for a period of five years. All the patients were subjected to triple assessment. Treatment was done according to the findings. All patients were followed for 1–2 years. ResultFive patients complained of a painful mass (3 in the axilla and 2 were infra-mammary). The remaining two cases were painless axillary mass. Histopathology and cytology revealed that 1 patient presented with fibroadenoma, 5 patients had Invasive ductal carcinoma, and 1pateint was diagnosed with Invasive lobular carcinoma. Modified radical mastectomy was done in 3 cases, wide local excision with axillary clearance in 2 cases, and wide local excision alone for 2 patients. Distant metastasis occurs in 2 cases of Modified radical mastectomy, in addition to local and distant metastasis in 1 patient with wide local excision alone. ConclusionIn ectopic breast carcinoma, modified radical mastectomy is indicated only in the presence of concurrent ipsilateral breast carcinoma and when there is an extension to the normal pectoral breast or chest wall. Otherwise, wide local excision with axillary clearance seems to be sufficient treatment with no recurrence or survival rate difference.