Pubertal retroareolar cysts presenting as bluish lumps: New cases and literature review

Retroareolar cysts (RCs) are a benign self-resolving condition primarily affecting pubertal individuals. However, their presentation as asymptomatic bluish areolar lumps remains underreported in the literature, with only six cases previously documented. This lack of awareness may lead to the oversight of RCs during diagnosis. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive literature review using PUBMED, and we further added three more cases. The mean time for clinical resolution was found to be 2.3 years. In light of these findings, we proposed a diagnostic and management algorithm to guide clinicians in their approach to RCs in pediatric patients. The algorithm involves thorough clinical examination, medical history assessment, and echographic investigation with color Doppler analysis. Regular follow-up visits are recommended until resolution of the lesions. Notably, due to the consistently favorable outcome of RCs, aggressive diagnostic interventions can be avoided, providing reassurance to patients and their families. It is crucial for paediatricians to stay updated on this underreported condition to ensure timely recognition and appropriate management. Dermatologists should be the first specialists to be consulted in cases of suspected RCs. Increasing awareness among healthcare professionals will contribute to improved diagnosis and management of this benign condition. In conclusion, RCs are a benign self-resolving condition commonly observed during puberty. Their presentation as asymptomatic bluish areolar lumps may often be overlooked. Through this study, we highlighted the importance of early recognition, proposed a diagnostic and management algorithm, and emphasized the favorable prognosis of RCs, which allows for a conservative approach to their management.

Differences in Diagnosis and Treatment of Nipple Conditions of Reproductive-Age Women at a Tertiary Health System

Background: Nipple-areolar complex (NAC) conditions affect reproductive-age women, yet it is not known how care of NAC complaints is distributed among medical specialties. There is a need to characterize all NAC conditions, including their treatment and the care team involved in their clinical management, of nonlactating and lactating patients to determine care gaps. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of reproductive-age females who presented to a large tertiary health system with an NAC complaint between 2015 and 2020. Data about the symptoms, diagnosis, specialty providing care, diagnostic considerations, and treatments were collected. Results: Nipple pain, dermatitis, and thrush were the most common diagnoses among 407 encounters (215 patients). Lactating patients represented half (204, 50%) of the study sample. Benign breast conditions like obstructed ductal openings, accessory nipples, nipple growth, inverted nipples, and chronic and bacterial infections represented a third of all encounters. Primary care physicians (167, 41%) and obstetricians (105, 26%) provided most of the care and referred a third and quarter of patients, respectively, to another provider. Conclusion: The care of patients with NAC complaints is not limited to obstetricians. Internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and obstetrician-gynecology, dermatology, and surgery resident physicians should receive training in benign breast conditions and clinical lactation.

Thoracoscopic treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax without a drainage tube in male patients

OBJECTIVE

To propose a treatment approach for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in male patients with a smaller incision and less pain.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 29 patients with PSP who underwent areola-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and 21 patients who underwent single-port VATS. The areola-port VATS technique was performed as follows. First, an arc incision was made along the lower edge of the areola, and a 5-mm-diameter thoracoscope was placed. The bullae were completely removed, and the absence of air leaks and other bullae was confirmed. A drainage tube was placed in the chest with negative pressure and then quickly pulled out, and the reserved suture line was knotted.

RESULTS

All patients were male, and their mean age was 19.07 ± 2.43 years. The mean intraoperative hemorrhage volume and postoperative pain score were significantly lower in the areola-port than single-port group. The mean operative time and mean postoperative hospital stay were also shorter in the areola-port group, but without statistical significance. The incidence of complications and the 1-year postoperative recurrence rate were 0% in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Our method is clinically feasible and inexpensive, has a traceless effect, and is especially suitable for adolescents.

Transareolar uniportal thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for patients with myasthenia gravis

Background

Transareolar uniportal thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (TUTET) has not been previously reported. We attempted to assess the feasibility and safety of TUTET for male myasthenia gravis (MG) patients.

Patients and methods

From February 2013 to February 2020, 46 men with MG underwent TUTET. All patients were followed up for 12–84 months postoperatively by clinic visits or telephone/e-mail interviews.

Results

All surgeries were completed successfully, with an average operation time of 72.6 min. The mean length of transareolar uniportal incision was 3.0 ± 0.4 cm, and the mean postoperative cosmetic score was 3.1 ± 0.5 at discharge. Three months postoperatively, no patients had an apparent surgical scar on the chest wall or complained of postoperative pain. Substantial amelioration of the disease was achieved in a short period, and several benefits were clear. At the 1-year follow-up, all patients showed a good cosmetic effect and high satisfaction.

Conclusions

TUTET is an effective and safe way for men with MG. The uniportal incision is hidden in the areola with sound cosmetic effects. We believe that TUTET is an acceptable procedure for extended thymectomy.

[Nipple-areola complex malformations]

THE NIPPLE-AREOLA COMPLEX, ALSO KNOWN AS THE NIPPLE-AREOLA PLATE, IS AN ESSENTIAL VISUAL FEATURE OF THE BREAST.THIS COMPLEX CAN BE AFFECTED BY VARIOUS MALFORMATIONS, BOTH CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED. ALTHOUGH THESE ANOMALIES OFTEN HAVE A MODERATE IMPACT ON THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS COMPLEX, THE RESULTING PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES CAN BE SIGNIFICANT. THEIR TREATMENT IS MOST OFTEN SURGICAL AND MANY TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED OVER THE YEARS TO RECONSTRUCT AREOLA AND NIPPLE. REGARDLESS OF THE TECHNIQUE USED, THIS ONE AS TO BE SIMPLE, QUICK, IMITATE AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE A NATIVE AREOLA-NIPPLE COMPLEX AND BE RELATIVELY DURABLE, AVOIDING NUMEROUS SURGICAL PROCEDURES.: .

Homogeneous blue lumps of the nipple-areola complex in pubertal girls

Retroareolar cysts are benign breast lesions caused by the obstruction and consequent dilatation of Montgomery tubercles. Herein, we report two cases of premenarchal girls who developed retroareolar cysts. Their course and differential diagnosis are discussed.

Nevoid hyperkeratosis of male breast: Successful treatment with minocycline

Nevoid hyperkeratosis of the nipple and/or areola (NHNA) is an uncommon disease with no definite etiology. NHNA of the male breast is rare in clinical practice. Despite being a benign disease, it is distressing for patients and therapeutically challenging for clinicians. We report a male patient with NHNA who responded favorably to minocycline treatment.

3D areola dermopigmentation (nipple-areola complex)

Surgical techniques for reconstructing the nipple-areola complex (NAC) pose disadvantages such as areola necrosis, loss of nipple projection, depression or local necrosis, temporary leave from professional activities due to convalescence, and operational costs, all of which are factors that may discourage patients from undergoing them. In this context, dermopigmentation stands out as an emerging nonsurgical option. It is an inexpensive outpatient procedure that mimics the nipple-areola complex by means of defining the areolar contour, Montgomery's tubercles, and a variety of colors that allow for individualization and contralateral symmetry. In this pioneering study, we propose to validate the 3D dermopigmentation technique as a preferential technique in the NAC reconstruction process. We selected 30 women with previous breast cancer who underwent conservative breast surgeries or mastectomy with NAC removal more than 6 months prior to their participating in our study. We employed the dermopigmentation technique, which we evaluated with the aid of questionnaires intended for patients, doctors, and tattooists. Among specialists, results were considered good and excellent with regard to overall esthetics (76.07%) and color (72.5%); whereas among patients, results were considered good and excellent with regard to overall satisfaction (95%) and color (100%); no adverse events were observed. Three-dimensional dermopigmentation proved to be a promising nonsurgical technique for nipple-areola complex reconstruction.

Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia: Breastfeeding Complications Due to Impaired Breast Development

Background X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED), the most common form of ectodermal dysplasia, is caused by mutations in the gene EDA. While only affected men develop the full-blown clinical picture, females who are heterozygous for an EDA mutation often also show symptoms such as hypodontia, hypotrichosis and hypohidrosis. These women may also suffer from malformations of the mammary gland which represent not just a cosmetic problem but can limit their breastfeeding capability. This paper summarizes the findings of the first systematic study on the impact of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia on breastfeeding. Patients Thirty-eight adult female members of the German-Swiss-Austrian ectodermal dysplasia patient support group participated in a structured interview; most of them also agreed to a photodocumentation of their mammary region. Thirty-one women carried mutations in EDA (Group A) and seven were affected by other forms of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (Group B). Results 39 % of the women of Group A reported that their breasts were of different size or entirely absent on one side. In Group B, 86 % of the women reported differently sized or even absent breasts; two of these women lacked both breasts entirely. Most women described their nipples as exceptionally flat. 10 % of the women of Group A had more than two nipples. The high percentage of deviations from the norm was confirmed in the photodocumentation. Both groups had few or no sebaceous glands of Montgomery in the areolar region. Around 80 % of interviewed women had children and had attempted to breastfeed their first child. 67 % of the mothers in Group A had had difficulty in breastfeeding their infants and generally attributed this difficulty to their flat nipples. All of the mothers in Group B reported difficulties in breastfeeding; 60 % had not been able to breastfeed their first child. Conclusion Mothers with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia very often have difficulty in breastfeeding because of their impaired breast development. This causal relationship needs to be taken into account in lactation counseling.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction of a Nipple Areolar Lumpectomy Defect With the L-Flap Skin Paddle Breast Reduction Design and Contralateral Reduction Mammoplasty Symmetry Procedure: Optimizing the Oncoplastic Surgery Multispecialty Approach

Objective: We describe a modification of the inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasty for oncoplastic reconstruction of a central tumor defect. Our technique involved a deepithelialized L-shaped medial inferior based flap with removal of lateral breast tissue after central lumpectomy with a contralateral Wise-pattern mastopexy with inferior pedicle for symmetry. This technique is ideal for patients with large, ptotic breasts that desire breast conservation with immediate reconstruction. Methods: A 47-year-old woman with size 38 DD breasts presented with a palpable 2-cm subareolar mass of the left breast. Surgical oncology performed a left lumpectomy with nipple-areola complex excision and a sentinel lymph node biopsy. Immediate left breast reconstruction was performed with an inferior pedicle island flap. An additional 30 g of breast tissue was excised laterally for contour, and the neo-nipple-areola complex was rotated into the defect to facilitate inverted-T closure. A standard Wise-pattern mastopexy with inferior pedicle was then performed on the right breast and an additional 205 g of tissue was removed for symmetry. Results: The patient showed excellent symmetry at the conclusion of the procedure. Final pathology demonstrated complete excision of the tumor with negative margins. The entire neo-nipple-areola complex skin island was viable postoperatively. Conclusions: Immediate reconstruction of a nipple-areola complex lumpectomy defect with a L-shaped medial inferior based skin paddle flap and contralateral reduction mammoplasty provides an excellent cosmetic outcome in patients with large, ptotic breasts and central defects following oncologic tumor resection.

A systematic review of risks and benefits with nipple-areola-reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Most women who have their breast reconstructed are offered NAC reconstruction. Nonetheless, it is unclear what scientific evidence there is for the procedure. The aims of the present systematic review were to evaluate the quality of evidence for benefits and risks with NAC reconstruction, and to examine the evidence for different techniques.

METHODS

Relevant databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were controlled studies comprising ≥20 patients and a case series of ≥50 patients. Included articles had to meet criteria defined in a PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome). Data extraction and collection were performed according to the QUADAS tool. The level of evidence of the selected articles was assessed according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2009 guidelines, and total evidence for the different research questions was graded according to the GRADE-system.

RESULTS

A total of 362 abstracts were retrieved following the search. Of these 325 did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded, leaving 37 studies to be included in the review. Among these, 36 were case series and one a small randomised non-blinded study Conclusions: The existing quality of evidence for risks and benefits of the operation is very low. It is unclear what the complication frequencies are after the reconstruction, and what effect on quality-of-life the operation has. Prospective studies of high quality are needed to evaluate the health effects and risks with NAC reconstruction.

Immediate nipple reconstruction with a C-V flap and areolar reconstruction with an autograft of the ipsilateral areola

BACKGROUND

The authors report a new nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction technique using an autograft of the ipsilateral areola for breast cancer with nipple invasion.

METHODS

A total of 43 patients with breast cancer involving nipple invasion underwent oncoplastic surgery with NAC reconstruction. The nipple was reconstructed with a C-V flap, and the areola was autografted onto the new areola bed after the ipsilateral areola was confirmed to be tumour-free. The cosmetic results were self-evaluated by the patients after chemotherapy or radiotherapy according to a 4-point scoring system.

RESULTS

Overall satisfaction with the cosmetic result was assessed as follows: excellent (n = 14), good (n = 19), fair (n = 7) or poor (n = 3). Oncological evaluation revealed no cases of local recurrence and five cases of distant metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The immediate NAC reconstruction technique involving a C-V flap and autografting of the ipsilateral areola is a feasible method for obtaining realistic areolar reconstruction.

Areola size and jugulum nipple distance after bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction

OBJECTIVE

The combination of a single pedicle local flap with tattooing for complete nipple areola complex (NAC) reconstruction is currently the most supported method. Although many technical descriptions of NAC reconstruction exist in the medical literature, there are no data that define the ideal areola size (diameter of the areola) after bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction considering the previous areola size.

METHODS

This was a 3-year (2009-2012) observational, analytical, and longitudinal prospective study with 103 patients who had undergone NAC tattooing as the last process of bilateral breast reconstruction after surgery for breast cancer. Statistical differences in the areola size and the jugulum-nipple distance before mastectomy and after reconstruction were analyzed by paired Student t tests with a 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

The jugulum-nipple distance before mastectomy was 4.23 cm larger than after bilateral reconstruction (mean jugulum-nipple distance: 23.89 cm vs 19.66 cm), and for that reason shorter (more cephalad). The areola size before mastectomy was 1.59 cm larger than the one chosen by the patient for reconstruction (mean diameter of the areola: 5.25 cm vs 3.65 cm).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that, after bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction, the jugulum-nipple distance is smaller and women prefer smaller areola sizes.