Breast-feeding with ectopic axillary breast tissue.

Axillary breast tissue, which may be an extension of the tail of Spence, is a normal variant that has been reported in the literature relatively infrequently, although it may be present in a number of asymptomatic women. If axillary breast tissue becomes symptomatic, this usually occurs during pregnancy or immediately postpartum when a woman begins breast-feeding. Symptoms are swelling and pain due to engorgement. A literature review revealed that management is generally conservative, with cessation of breast-feeding to allow regression of the tissue. This report describes a woman who successfully pumped her axillary breasts to relieve pain and engorgement; this allowed her to continue breast-feeding for several weeks. Axillary breast tissue should be monitored for pathologic change.

Duke Scholars

Author Anthony Joseph Viera Family Medicine and Community Health