[Tuberous breast: Current concept]. / Seins tubéreux.

ABSTRACT

Tuberous breast deformity is a congenital breast anomaly with different clinical signs. The most consistent sign is the constricting ring at the base of the breast. There is deficiency in the horizontal and/or vertical dimensions of the breast and often herniation of breast parenchyma toward the nipple-areola complex with areola enlargement. Breast asymmetry is frequently associated. This anomaly occurs only in females, during breast development at puberty. The incidence is unknown because of minor forms more difficult to diagnose. This deformity produces psychological morbidity and encourages the patients to consult. In 1999, Grolleau publishes a classification with three types of tuberous breast deformity. The goals of the surgical treatment are the expansion of the constricted base, the redistribution of volume, the correction of areolar size and of herniated subareolar breast tissue. In type II and III, the simple use of breast implant involves the "memory" of the previous inframammary fold line. To avoid this complication, it is necessary to make a glandular rearrangement with parenchymal flaps like Puckett and Ribeiro. It is a real challenge for the plastic surgeon who must reshape the breast and obtain a symmetry of volume. It would be delusive to think all types of tuberous breast can be corrected with the same one-step technique. It is often necessary to plan several surgeries and patient must always be informed about the strategy.