title: Polythelia is not a mere aesthetic issue.
abstract: Anomalies in breast development include an increase in the number of breast (polymastia), nipples (polythelia), areolas (polythelia areolaris) and the tissue of the breast gland. Of the many forms, the most common is an accessory nipple, polythelia. It commonly develops along the embryonic "milk line" (Fig. 1). It constitutes a diagnostic problem only sporadically. Excision is indicated for diagnostic, treatment or cosmetic reasons. In the literature, the evidence of these anomalies suggests that they could be markers for others, most notably urologic malformations and malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. kokavec@nspr.sk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kokavec
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macúch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fedeles
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ondriás
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology