Axillary masses as clinical manifestations of male sweat gland carcinoma associated with extramammary Paget's disease and accessory breast carcinoma: two cases report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Male cases of accessory breast carcinoma and sweat gland carcinoma associated with extramammary Paget's disease of the axilla are uncommon. In clinical diagnosis and treatment, it is necessary to determine the disease carefully and make a reasonable treatment strategy according to the patient's situation. CASE PRESENTATION: We described two male cases of the special tumor with an axillary mass as the first clinical symptom, one of which was diagnosed as accessory breast cancer and the other as sweat gland cancer associated with extramammary Paget's disease. We treated the two diseases individually in the hopes of providing a reference for the diagnosis and management of diseases with axillary nodules as the initial symptom. CONCLUSIONS: The reports of these two cases can provide reference and corresponding thinking for clinical differentiation of axillary lymphadenopathy caused by different causes and subsequent treatment. These two cases may further enrich the database of rare cases and provide some ideas for the treatment of axillary lymphadenopathy caused by different causes.

Axillary ectopic breast tissue in the adolescent.

AIM: Ectopic breast tissue (EBT) includes a spectrum of disease that entails other entities based on the presence of glandular tissue, nipple, or areola. The diagnosis in adolescents is infrequent. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed including girls with axillary EBT (class IV or V of Kajava's Classification) operated in 2006-2020. Imagining studies, clinical and surgical reports, and histopathology were reviewed. RESULTS: Eleven girls from 13 to 16 years old were included. Two patients (18.2%) presented bilateral EBT. The most frequent clinical manifestation was 2-5 cm mass (100%), associating cyclic pain with menstruation (45%) and fluctuating volume (36%). Bilateral axillary ultrasonography allowed preoperative diagnosis. All of them were treated by open excision, through small incisions located in an axillary y fold. Clinical and aesthetic results were self-assessed as "very good", with normalization of the axillary y hollow and imperceptible scars. No recurrences were observed after one year of follow-up. An immediate postoperative hematoma was reported, which did not require drainage. Histopathology showed mature breast tissue without atypia. CONCLUSIONS: Axillary accessory breasts must be included in differential diagnosis of pediatric axillary masses. Bilateral ultrasonography is recommended for the preoperative diagnosis. Excision through minimal incision at this age seems to be safe and effective.

Ectopic breast carcinoma.

Carcinoma of the accessory breast tissue (CABT) is an extremely rare occurrence, representing 0.3% of all breast malignancies. A 65-year-old, postmenopausal woman was referred to our Breast Clinic complaining of a palpable, growing, and painful mass in her right axilla. Physical examination revealed a palpable tender mass, approximately 3 cm in size, visibly infiltrating the overlying skin area, while physical examination of the breast revealed no palpable lesions. Core biopsy of the mass was promptly scheduled, and the histological report came back positive for Nottingham Grade II NST invasive carcinoma of the breast. The patient underwent breast-conserving surgery and concomitant axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for removal of the malignant mass. Care was taken to preserve the axillary vein and the long thoracic nerve. Closure of the axillary incision required mobilization of skin flaps to ensure optimal cosmetic results. Despite the ectopic breast tissue being a largely benign and infrequent occurrence, the breast surgeon must remain vigilant for the possibility of CABT development. At any rate, further epidemiological studies incorporating as many patients as possible are required in order to formulate recommendations on the management and prognosis of CABT. Until such guidelines exist, excision of the carcinoma, along with ALND performance, is a reasonable and justified approach to the surgical treatment of CABT.

Surgery for fibroadenoma arising from axillary accessory breast.

BACKGROUND: Patients with fibroadenomas in axillary accessory breasts (AABs) have a palpable mass, cyclic axillary pain, and aesthetic concerns that must be addressed. We compared the baseline patient characteristics, AAB characteristics, and surgical outcomes of patients with AABs with and without fibroadenomas undergoing surgical excision. We also monitored the patients for recurrence of axillary fibroadenomas. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 2310 women who underwent AAB excision from 2014 to 2019. Patients with and without a palpable fibroadenoma were divided into a fibroadenoma group and non-fibroadenoma group, respectively. All patients underwent complete excision of accessory mammary gland (AMG) tissue, including fibroadenomas in the AABs. We removed the fibroadenoma and the AMG tissue with a minimal axillary incision. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients had a palpable fibroadenoma in the AAB, and all patients in the fibroadenoma group had cyclic axillary pain and a palpable axillary mass. There were no significant differences in the patients' age, weight of the AMG tissue, liposuction volume, or fibroadenoma laterality between the two groups. The body mass index in the fibroadenoma group was lower than that in the non-fibroadenoma group (19.9 vs. 22.3 kg/m2, respectively; P < 0.000). Concurrent fibroadenoma excision in a normal breast on the chest was performed more often in the fibroadenoma group than in the non-fibroadenoma group (35.9% (14/39) vs. 4.1% (92/2271), respectively; P < 0.000). The mean fibroadenoma size was 2.1 cm (range, 1.1-9.1 cm). All patients were satisfied with the degree of postoperative pain relief, disappearance of palpable lesions, and cosmetic improvement. No patients developed fibroadenoma recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Complete excision of the AMG tissue and fibroadenoma is appropriate in patients with an AAB with a fibroadenoma. Surgeons should also consider the high incidence of concurrent fibroadenomas in the normal breasts on the chest.

Efficacy of Two-Step Surgery on Severely Protruding Axillary Accessory Breast: First-Step Mammary Gland Excision Followed by Second-Look Redundant Skin Excision.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of axillary accessory breasts (AABs) vary among patients. Mildly protruding AABs do not require skin excision, whereas severely protruding AABs might. We report a novel technique that includes mammary gland excision followed 6 months later by second-look redundant skin excision, if necessary. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this two-step surgical approach and compared it with one-step en bloc resection in severely protruding AAB patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 834 women who underwent AAB excision during 2017-2019. AABs were classified according to their external appearance: protruding, palpable accessory breast at an obtuse angle (class I) or an acute angle with accompanying skinfold (class II). Class II was further divided according to the excision technique: one-step en bloc resection (n = 36) or two-step resection (n = 42). Patients completed post hoc satisfaction surveys evaluating appearance, axillary pain, and scar, 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 204 class II patients and 168 patients who underwent a two-step approach; 42/168 underwent second-look skin excision, and 126/168 underwent one-step gland excision exclusively. The remaining 36 patients underwent one-step resection. Scars measured 4.3 cm in the second-look group versus 6.4 cm in the one-step group (P < 0.000). Overall satisfaction scores were higher in the second-look group versus the one-step group (13.6 vs. 12.3, respectively; P < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: For severely protruding AABs, mammary gland excision with skin preservation comprises the first operation, and second-look skin excision can be considered 6 months later. This procedure avoids overtreatment and potentially increases patient satisfaction compared with one-step en bloc excision. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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.

Axillary Accessory Breast: Optimal Time for Operation.

BACKGROUND: Accessory breasts are usually located in the axilla. Symptoms associated with an axillary accessory breast (AAB) may newly develop or worsen after pregnancy. After childbirth, AAB engorgement and hyperplasia may occur due to milk formation. We evaluated the optimal time for AAB excision and assessed variations in clinical presentations and surgical outcomes associated with pregnancy. METHODS: In total, 540 women whose symptoms began from puberty and underwent AAB excision were retrospectively analyzed. Group 1 comprised 416 patients who underwent operations before pregnancy, and Group 2 comprised 124 patients who underwent operations after childbirth. AABs were classified according to the Damsoyu-Lee (DL) classification. Satisfaction was measured by pain and cosmesis 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Group 2 had more patients with severe symptoms [DL class II (n = 8, 6.5%) and III (n = 15, 12.1%)] than Group 1 (p = 0.049). The specimen weight and liposuction volume were greater in Group 2. The reoperation rate was also higher in Group 2 [loosening skin excision (n = 4, 3.2%) and remnant gland excision (n = 3, 2.4%)] (p = 0.032). In Group 2, 31 (25%) patients had AAB engorgement after childbirth and 7 (5.6%) had milk secretion from the accessory nipple after childbirth. The overall satisfaction score was lower in Group 2 than 1. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy may cause accessory breast gland hyperplasia. After childbirth, symptoms such as AAB engorgement and milk secretion from the accessory nipple may occur. The optimal timing for operation for AAB appears to be before the onset of pregnancy because of lower reoperation rates and greater patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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 .

Sonographic Findings of Accessory Breast Tissue in Axilla and Related Diseases.

Accessory breast tissue results from failed regression of primitive mammary tissue and is most often located in the axilla. Accessory breast tissue itself is normal and should not be misdiagnosed as an abnormality. Both benign and malignant diseases that occur in the normal breast can also develop in accessory breast tissue in the axilla. In this pictorial essay, we show sonographic findings of normal accessory breast tissue in the axilla and various lesions that occur in accessory axillary breast tissue, along with other imaging findings and pathologic features.

Mammotome-Assisted Liposuction: A Novel Technique for Accessory Breasts.

INTRODUCTION: Due to its minimally invasive and highly precise nature, the mammotome, a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy device, has proven effective for the treatment of benign breast lesions. Taking advantage of both liposuction and the mammotome, we utilized the mammotome device for the excision of accessory breasts. METHODS: Between July 2010 and June 2014, 16 patients with accessory breasts received mammotome-assisted liposuction. After adipose was removed using this procedure, the mammotome system was used to excise the fibro-glandular tissue in accessory breasts under ultrasound monitoring. RESULTS: All patients were satisfied with their appearance after surgery. A single 5-mm incision, which was well hidden in the axillary skin folds and allowed for restoration, provided an aesthetically pleasing contour to the axilla. CONCLUSIONS: Mammotome-assisted liposuction is a new approach that can be used to excise both adipose and fibro-glandular breast tissue simultaneously with a minimal incision, and provides a favorable contour to the axilla. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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 .

Accessory Axillary Breast Excision with Liposuction Using Minimal Incision: A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: Accessory breasts have received little attention in the surgical fields, although the condition is quite common in the female population, with 2-6% of women suffering from it. Its convexity and cyclic pain make women feel embarrassed and uncomfortable, so patients often desire surgical excision to improve their appearances and to remove the pain. METHODS: A total of 967 patients who had been treated by an excision of accessory breast tissue with liposuction using minimal incision from September 2013 to Dec 2015 at the Damsoyu Hospital were analyzed for clinical factors retrospectively. RESULTS: All 967 patients were female. There were 514 (53.2%) unmarried patients and 453 (46.8%) married patients. The major clinical manifestation was the problem in the appearance with cyclic pain in both unmarried and married groups (82.7 vs. 87.9%). Three types of accessory breasts were observed: 779 (80.6%) breast tissue only in axillae, 182 (18.8%) breast tissue with accessory nipple, and 6 (0.6%) breast tissue with accessory nipple-areolar complex. The mean operation time was 58 min. All cyclic axillar pain in our cases was resolved after the operation. Postoperative complications developed in 160 patients (16.55%). Among them, seroma after operation was the most common (11.27%). In our study, 95.65% of the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical excision of accessory breasts with liposuction through the minimal incision is a safe and effective method to make women feel comfortable in clinical manifestations and be satisfied with their cosmetic axillar line. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: 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 .

Fibroadenomatosis involving bilateral breasts and axillary accessory breast tissues in a renal transplant recipient given cyclosporin A.

We present the mammographic and sonographic findings in a case of fibroadenomatosis involving both breasts and axillae in a renal transplant patient after 16 years of treatment with cyclosporin A. Awareness of the fact that cyclosporin A may induce the formation of fibroadenomas, including in accessory breast tissue, is important for correct diagnosis and preventing unnecessary intervention.

Triple-negative accessory breast cancer occurring concurrently with primary invasive breast carcinoma: a case report.

Introduction: Accessory breast cancer (ABC) is an extremely rare condition, particularly the presence of triple-negative ABC with ipsilateral invasive in situ breast cancer. Binary breast tumors are controversial in terms of surgical methods and comprehensive treatment. Case presentation: We share the case of a 64-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with an underarm mass for 3 months. Ultrasonography and computed tomography suggested possible breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis. The patient underwent a left modified radical mastectomy combined with axillary lymph node dissection. The postoperative pathology confirmed a binary tumor, prompting us to initiate comprehensive treatment. Conclusion: We present the treatment approach for a rare case of triple-negative para-breast cancer complicated with carcinoma in situ of the breast, hoping to contribute new therapeutic ideas for the treatment of this disease.

Unilateral Enlarged Right Accessory Axillary Breast Tissue in a Male: A Case Report.

Accessory breast tissue, associated with polymastia and polythelia, presents challenges and concerns, particularly when patients fear malignancy. While occurring in 1-6% of cases, accessory breasts, often located bilaterally in the axillae, necessitate careful examination. We report a 35-year-old male with painful axillary swelling who underwent high-resolution ultrasonography (HR-USG) and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), revealing proper axillary breast tissue. Subsequent excision biopsy confirmed accessory axillary breast without malignancy. In conclusion, surgical removal of accessory axillary breasts is advisable, addressing cosmetic concerns and minimizing cancer risks.

Ectopic breast cancer: A case report.

Ectopic breast may be present at any site, from the axilla to the vulva, other than its normal location. Cysts, adenofibromas and rarely carcinomas have been reported in ectopic breasts. In this case report, we present a patient with ectopic breast cancer. The patient had a thickening and enlarging of her ectopic breast tissue, on the left arcus costarium. Tru-cut biopsy revealed "invasive lobular carcinoma". Left ectopic mastectomy and level I-II axillary dissection were performed and then chemotherapy+radiotherapy+endocrine therapy treatment was commenced. During follow up, the patient is doing well; in spite of R1 resection, she has no evidence of local recurrences or distant metastases.

Unusual intracystic papilloma arising from ectopic axillary breast tissue: Case report.

Accessory breast tissue (supernumerary breast tissue) is due to the absence of regression of the primitive milk lines during embryonic life which extends from the axilla to the groin. It is mostly located in the axilla where it is often confused with the axillary extension of the breast, or any pathological process occurring in armpits. Ectopic mammary glands should not be misdiagnosed as it can potentially undergo the same pathological processes that occur in a normally located breast including benign or malignant breast tumors. We report the case of an intracystic papilloma arising from left axillary accessory breast tissue in a 63-year-old woman. The principal symptom was pain in a palpable left axillary mass without inflammatory signs. Subsequent imaging and histopathologic examination proved it to be a papillary tumor in ectopic breast tissue.

Borderline phyllodes tumor arising in ectopic breast tissue in the axilla: Report of a rare case with brief review of literature.

Development of a neoplasm in an ectopic breast is uncommon, while the development of phyllodes tumor in an ectopic breast in the axilla is even rarer. We report a rare case of a 51-year-old female who presented with a complain of swelling and pain in the right axilla with no associated complaints in other organs. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a possibility of metastatic lymphadenopathy. Complete excision of the right axillary mass was performed and sent for histopathological examination which was examined thoroughly and sections were given. On microscopic examination, stromal proliferation in a leaf-like pattern with mild stromal atypia and focal permeation of borders were seen, and a diagnosis of Ectopic borderline phyllodes tumor in axilla was made, which is extremely rare and needs to be differentiated from its close differentials like fibroadenoma and periductal stromal sarcoma.

Granular Cell Tumor of the Axillary Accessory Breast: A Case Report.

Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are rare benign soft tissue tumors that can occur throughout the body, particularly the head and neck; only 5%-8% of GCTs occur in the breast. We report a case of a GCT of the axillary accessory breast, which is a rare location of this tumor. A 50-year-old woman had a 2-month history of a palpable mass in the left axilla. Physical examination, as well as mammographic and ultrasonographic findings suggested a breast malignancy. Histopathological examination showed a benign GCT, and wide local excision was performed. The patient has remained disease-free over 2 years postoperatively. Although most GCTs are benign, wide complete resection of the tumor and follow-up are required considering the possibility of recurrence. The radiologist should know the characteristics of GCTs as a differential diagnosis of breast and axillary lesions to prevent unnecessary treatment.

Male Accessory Breast Cancer Successfully Treated With Single-Agent Trastuzumab: A Case Report.

Male accessory breast cancer is an extremely rare tumor. There is no report about its monotherapy and subsequent outcome prior to 2022. The current study presents the case of a 76-year-old male patient with a hard mass in the left axilla. Histopathologic examination of an excisional specimen indicated an adenocarcinoma compatible with breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the mass was estrogen receptor (ER) (-), progesterone receptor (PR)(-), and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) (-). A diagnosis of breast cancer originating from the accessory mammary gland in the axilla was made. Two years following surgery, the patient presented with a pulmonary lesion. Core needle biopsy was performed, and the lesion was found to be ER (-), PR(-), and HER2 (3+). The patient was successfully treated with single-agent trastuzumab. Single-agent trastuzumab could be a reasonable regimen for metastatic accessory breast cancer patients with HER2 overexpression for whom chemotherapy and endocrine therapy are not suitable.

Unexpected presentation of accessory breast: vulvar accessory breast tissue: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The accessory breast is composed of residual glandular mammary tissue that persists after normal embryonic development. The entity is so rare that it is easily neglected in the diagnosis of disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 24-year-old virgin Persian woman with a left-sided vulvar mass and no pain or discomfort until shortly before her presentation at our department. Ectopic breast tissue in the vulva was diagnosed. We performed wide local resection of the lesion. Pathological investigation of the lesion confirmed the presence of ectopic breast tissue with secretory changes. She had no specific developmental abnormalities and had no relevant family history. She was followed up for 10 months and had recovered fully by this time. CONCLUSION: Accessory breast tissue should be considered as a diagnosis when a mass is seen along the embryonic milk line, especially if the clinical findings reveal changes in the mass accompanied by changes in sex hormones.

Fibroadenoma Arising in Axillary Ectopic Breast Tissue. A Diagnostic Challenge.

Ectopic or accessory breast tissue may occur in primitive embryonic milk lines or locations other than the milk line. The same pathology arising in breast tissue may occur less frequently in ectopic breast tissue. Fibroadenomas rarely occur in ectopic breast tissue, with less than 50 reported cases in the English literature, despite being the most common benign breast neoplasms. Diagnosing fibroadenoma in ectopic breast tissue can be challenging due to the lack of clinical suspicion and the atypical findings in imaging studies. Treatment consists of surgical excision. In this manuscript, we present a case of a 24-year-old patient with a fibroadenoma of the left axilla arising in bilateral axillary ectopic breast tissue, and we comprehensively review the literature.