[Development of the female breast].
The decision, whether or not an abnormality of breast development needs consideration, fundamentally depends on the knowledge of the time sequence of thelarche, menarche and pubarche. Their occurrence is normally one to two years apart. Neonatal hypertrophy or asymmetries are frequent and do not need treatment. Painful enlargement of the breast might appear during puberty and can be treated symptomatically or with progestogen gel. Persistent micromastia or macromastia (virginal hypertrophy) is a more serious event. After thoroughful consultation the patient might be referred to the plastic surgeon. If the breast development is deficient after the age of 14, further diagnostic steps should be undertaken in order to exclude abnormalities of sexual differentiation. The most significant symptom for the latter is primary amenorrhea.
Ludwig
H
H
Universität Basel.
D000293:Adolescent; D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology