title: [Polythelia and supernumerary breast. Personal experience and review of the literature].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study focuses on the approach, management and treatment of patients with polythelia and supernumerary breast and the target is the search for a treatment algorithm for these diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We considered at 18 patients treated from 2006 to 2011 for breast congenital anomalies in excess. 14 surgical procedures were performed, 8 for supernumerary nipple excision (1 case associated with Poland Syndrome) and 6 for accessory breast ablation. All patients were aged between 15 and 34 years and belonged to both sexes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The breast tissue it was detected fibrocystic mastopathy in 5 cases of polimastia. In the remaining cases the nipples and mammary tissues were normal. After a median follow-up from one to five years, we obtained in all cases not only an excellent aesthetic result but also a psychological.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The supernumerary breast tissue is not just a cosmetic problem, it is also subject to the same pathological lesions that are observed in a normal breast. In view of the potential malignant transformation of anomalous breast incidentally, early and accurate diagnosis is required as well as its monitoring over time. CONCLUSIONS. We therefore believe that surgical approach is always necessary in cases of polimastia, while considering options in the treatment of polythelia, where it becomes crucial if aesthetic and/or psychologically problems in the patient coexist.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Chirurgia Plastica e ricostruttiva, Università degli Studi di Perugia. sommafrancesco@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Somma
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calzoni
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arleo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiummariello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009558:Nipples / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult