What is accessory breast picture

Accessory breasts are often made of underdeveloped tissue, close to small nipples. Some women only have mammary glands, some only have nipples. Before menstruation, the accessory breasts will swell and ache, and the pain will increase significantly during pregnancy. The accessory breast secretes a small amount of milk during lactation. Among them, a few accessory breasts in the chest have a secret passageway connected to the normal breast. The secreted milk accumulates because it cannot be completely discharged, which can easily cause swelling, pain, inflammation, and even suppuration.

In addition, diseases that normal breasts may encounter, such as mastitis, breast lobular hyperplasia, breast fibroids, breast cancer, etc., can also occur in accessory breasts, and the possibility of being affected is higher than that of normal breasts.

Accessory breasts refer to the extra breasts that appear in addition to the normal pair of breasts on the body. They are usually located in front of the armpits or under the armpits, or on the left and right of the normal breasts on the chest, abdomen, groin, etc. The reason for the formation of accessory breasts is that humans have 6 to 8 pairs of mammary glands in the two lines from the armpit to the groin during the test tube embryo stage. Before birth, except for the pair on the chest that are preserved again, the others have atrophied. If these mammary gland rudiments cannot completely atrophy due to abnormal growth and development, multiple breasts will be formed, which is called polymastia. Accessory breasts can be manifested as having breast tissue but no nipples, having breast tissue growth and development and nipples, or having no breast tissue but having nipples.

Causes

In the embryonic stage, people have 6 to 8 pairs of mammary glands from the armpit to the groin. Before birth, only one pair of mammary glands remain open on the chest, while the rest of the mammary glands atrophy. In a very small number of patients, the breasts do not decline or decline incompletely, resulting in accessory breasts. It can occur on one or both sides, usually in front of the armpit or under the armpit, but can also occur on the left and right sides of the breast, abdomen, groin, inner thigh, etc.

Clinical symptoms

Generally, the size of accessory breasts varies from person to person, and most people do not have any special feeling. Some patients experience swelling and pain before menarche, which disappears after menstruation.

Most cases present with swelling or protrusions in front of or under the armpits, and may also involve fully developed nipples. A hard lump can be felt in the accessory breast, which is the growing and developing mammary gland. It can also occur on the left and right sides of the normal breast, in the abdomen, groin, inner thigh, etc. Some can develop into breasts that are very different in shape from normal breasts and include nipples.

The changes in accessory breasts are more obvious during pregnancy and lactation. Generally, during pregnancy and lactation, accessory breasts will significantly increase in size and even cause milk secretion. After breastfeeding, the accessory breast does not shrink, so the main manifestation is more obvious.

Accessory breasts affect your appearance, dressing style and business activities. The vast majority of patients seek medical treatment for a desired appearance improvement. Accessory breasts contain breast tissue and therefore carry the risk of breast cancer.