Postpartum Galactostasis of the Vulva in a Case of Bilateral Lactating Ectopic Breast Tissue

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the general population, the incidence of accessory breast tissue, a congenital malformation, is 1–5%. The most common site is the lower axilla. Detecting such tissue may be problematic, and accessory breasts below the umbilicus are extremely rare. CASE: This report describes the case of a 5-day postpartum 29-year-old woman, G2P2, with painful vulvar swelling 6 cm in diameter. The patient was diagnosed with polymastia in the vulva, without polythelia, with galactostasis due to suturing of a birth laceration covering an excretory duct. The sutures were removed, and the pain decreased. Breastfeeding was continued. CONCLUSION: Ectopic breast tissue is rare but should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of a vulvar mass, especially postpartum in lactating women.

Pregnancy-unrelated fibroadenoma in ectopic breast tissue in the axilla and vulva: A case report

“…However, ectopic breast tissue of the vulva is extremely rare. Previous case reports have described lactating adenomas, bilateral ectopic breast tissue of the vulva in pregnancy, postpartum unilateral ectopic breast tissue without milk excretion, and primary adenocarcinoma [ 4 , 5 , 10 ]. The majority of cases reported in the literature involve patients either during pregnancy or shortly after delivery.…”

“…Because ectopic tissue is hormone-sensitive it tends to manifest during or shortly after pregnancy in response to elevated estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. There have even been case reports of vulvar ectopic breast tissue presenting with lactogenesis [ 4 , 5 ]. Although there are very few cases reports of lesions developing outside of pregnancy, these have included the postmenopausal period [ 3 ].…”

“…Although the diagnosis is ultimately made with histologic confirmation, certain clinical characteristics such as the timing of mass enlargement and lactogenesis are important clues [ 5 ]. This is especially relevant when investigating a newly diagnosed vulvar mass for malignancy.…”

“…However, it can also develop malignant changes such as phyllodes, lobular, ductal, and mucinous adenocarcinoma [ 6 , 7 ]. Therefore, although management guidelines are lacking and some patients have been treated expectantly with a resolution of symptoms, the general approach has been to resect these lesions completely to detect or prevent malignancy [ 5 , 8 ].…”

Tejido mamario ectópico en vulva: reporte de caso y revisión sistemática de la literatura

“…En el grupo de patología benigna, al momento de vida del diagnóstico (estado hormonal), el 56,1 % (41/73) se encontraba en edad fértil ( (21,22,35,47,48,61,78,82,89,91,105); un 12,3% (9/73) en período postparto (18,24,42,52,67,86,93,94,102); una en lactancia (106); un 10,9% (8/73) se encontraba en postmenopausia (19,28,45,46,57,69,70); y un caso sin datos (26).…”