Active ectopic breast tissue in the vulva of a postpartum patient. A case report

Abstract

Ectopic breast tissue (EBT) occurs in 0.3-6% of females and is typically located in the axilla, but it can also be found in the vulva. Diagnosis often occurs when there are hormonal changes that influence growth and development of the tissue. Due to symptomatology and malignant potential of this ectopic tissue, excision is typically recommended. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 1001, attended four weeks after a normal vaginal delivery for a painless vulvar mass. Incision, drainage and biopsy were performed, revealing ectopic breast tissue with lactational changes. Simple partial vulvectomy revealed fibrocystic and lactational changes in mammary tissue of the vulva without atypia or malignancy. Our case displays a rare finding of aberrant, lactating breast tissue presenting in a postpartum patient.