Breast Fluctuating Asymmetry in Women with Macromastia/Gigantomastia

Abstract

Background: A number of studies have reported breasts have high fluctuating asymmetry (FA:|Right-Left|), suggesting that they contain evolutionary and clinical information (e.g., high FA correlates with breast cancer risk). Here we focus on breast FA in women with a wide range of breast sizes, including participants with macromastia and/or gigantomastia. Material and methods: The sample included 65 women (mean age 33.97 ± 12.1 years). Thirty were randomly selected students and/or patients who regarded their breast size as small, normal or average and who had not undergone or intended to have any breast surgery. The remainder (n = 35) were qualified for breast reduction due to macromastia and/or gigantomastia. In all participants we measured/calculated weight, height and BMI, as well as took chest photographs. Breast volumes and nipple areola complex FAs were evaluated in a specifically-designed software. Results: Breast size significantly positively correlated with breast volume FA in all women (t = 5.17, p < 0.0001) and in women with macromastia/gigantomastia (t = 2.32, p = 0.027). All nipple location FAs correlated positively with breast size. Conclusions: In women with different breast sizes, breast size correlates with FA calculated from breast volume and nipple location FAs. In women with macromastia and/or gigantomastia, breasts present higher FA than “normal” breasts. This observation may give a rationale for earlier and more frequent prophylactic breast imaging in women with macromastia and/or gigantomastia.

Is Preoperative Asymmetry a Predictor of Postoperative Asymmetry in Patients Undergoing Breast Reduction?

“…In addition, hypertrophic breasts are often more asymmetrical than normal-sized breasts, which can further exacerbate these symptoms. The etiology of gigantomastia in most cases is unknown (idiopathic), but it can be the result of hormonal disturbances and changes due to some disorders, or it may arise from physiological conditions such as pregnancy (gestational gigantomastia) [1,2].…”