Breast-feeding with ectopic axillary breast tissue.
Axillary breast tissue, which may be an extension of the tail of Spence, is a normal variant that has been reported in the literature relatively infrequently, although it may be present in a number of asymptomatic women. If axillary breast tissue becomes symptomatic, this usually occurs during pregnancy or immediately postpartum when a woman begins breast-feeding. Symptoms are swelling and pain due to engorgement. A literature review revealed that management is generally conservative, with cessation of breast-feeding to allow regression of the tissue. This report describes a woman who successfully pumped her axillary breasts to relieve pain and engorgement; this allowed her to continue breast-feeding for several weeks. Axillary breast tissue should be monitored for pathologic change.
Department of Family Practice, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla., USA.
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Viera
D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast; D001942:Breast Feeding; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002828:Choristoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D013396:Suction