Patchy areolar hyperpigmentation 6 years after augmentation mastopexy: a case report.
A 42-year-old primigravida woman of 20 weeks gestation was referred to the authors for the treatment of a suspected malignant melanoma of her left areola. She had undergone bilateral augmentation mammoplasty with periareolar mastopexy elsewhere 6 years previously. Her history included partial necrosis of her left areola in the immediate postoperative period that required a long time to heal and had resulted in partial areolar depigmentation. Her left areola had a few patches of hyperpigmentation at her presentation to the authors. Specimens removed from eight involved areas showed a tissue diagnosis of benign areolar melanosis. The hyperpigmentation completely disappeared after delivery. This case is reported because of its rarity as well as its nonmalignant and self-resolving nature.


METHODS
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 8-00168, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Bracaglia
Damiano
D
Tambasco
Stefano
S
Gentileschi
Marco
M
D'Ettorre
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D019928:Breast Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009558:Nipples / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*