Supernumerary nipple
A supernumerary nipple is an additional nipple occurring in mammals, including humans. Often mistaken for moles, supernumerary nipples are diagnosed in humans at a rate of approximately 1 in 18 people.[1][2]
| Supernumerary nipple | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Third nipple, Triple nipple, Accessory nipple,[1] Polythelia |
 | |
| Specialty | Medical genetics, dermatology |
The nipples appear along the two vertical "milk lines", which start in the armpit on each side, run down through the typical nipples and end at the groin. They are classified into eight levels of completeness from a simple patch of hair to a milk-bearing breast in miniature.[3][4]
Types
| Type | Glandular tissue | Nipple | Areola | Fat tissue | Hair patch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| 2 | yes | yes | |||
| 3 | yes | yes | |||
| 4 | yes | ||||
| 5 ("pseudomamma") | yes | yes | yes | ||
| 6 ("polythelia") | yes | ||||
| 7 ("polythelia areolaris") | yes | ||||
| 8 ("polythelia pilosa") | yes[5] |
Polythelia refers to the presence of an additional nipple alone while polymastia denotes the much rarer presence of additional mammary glands.
Although usually presenting on the milk line, pseudomamma can appear as far away as the foot.[6]
A possible relationship with mitral valve prolapse has been proposed.[7]
Clinical Significance
Clinical presentation
May remain undetected. Occasionally, the supernumerary nipple is noticed when hormonal changes during adolescence, menstruation, or pregnancy cause increased pigmentation, fluctuating swelling, tenderness, or even lactation.
Associations
It is said to be found in association with many syndromes and other conditions:
- Turner syndrome
- Fanconi anemia
- ectodermal dysplasia
- Kaufman-McKusick syndrome
- Char syndrome
- Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome
- epibulbar lipodermoids associated with preauricular appendages syndrome
- Central nervous system
- epilepsy
- migraine
- neurosis
- familial alcoholism
- fetal alcohol syndrome
- intracranial aneurysm
- neural tube defect
- developmental delay
- accessory lung lobe
- Skeletal
- hand malformation
- vertebral anomaly
- absent rib
- patent ductus arteriosus
- congenital heart disease
Treatment and prognosis
Most often no treatment is required; however, a protruding embarrassing supernumerary nipple can be removed surgically, if desired. Removal using liquid nitrogen cryotherapy has also been described.
Society and culture
Television
The Triple Nipple Club is a documentary shown on Channel 4 which explored the biological mystery of the supernumerary nipple.[8] First broadcast on 2 January 2008, it was directed and produced by Dan Louw and commissioned as part of Channel 4's First Cut series.[9]
The film focuses on Louw’s attempts to understand why he was born with extra nipples, a condition he shares with the likes of Mark Wahlberg,[10] Lily Allen,[11] and Tilda Swinton, as well as well known TV and film characters such as the Bond Villain Scaramanga and Chandler Bing.
Fascinated and confused by this seemingly pointless mutation, Louw sets off on a personal journey of discovery to try and unwrap "the riddle of the triple nipple". He starts out by consulting the man in the street and even a renowned teratologist, an expert in physical mutations. After testing the notion that extra nipples could be a sign of fertility, he discovers that they are actually an atavism, or evolutionary 'holdover' – a sign of how humans evolved.[12]
References
- Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- "Cancer hope over breast gene find", BBC, 1 September 2005; references the rate of extra nipples appearing in humans.
- Kajava Y. "The proportions of supernumerary nipples in the Finnish population". Duodecim 1915; 1:143-70.
- Revis, Don R. Jr. "Breast Embryology". eMedicine. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- Camacho F.; González-Cámpora R. (1998). "Polythelia pilosa: A Particular Form of Accessory Mammary Tissue". Dermatology. 196 (3): 295–298. doi:10.1159/000017924. PMID 9621135.
- "Pseudomamma on the foot: An unusual presentation of supernumerary breast tissue". Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- Rajaratnam K, Kumar PD, Sahasranam KV (2000). "Supernumerary nipple as a cutaneous marker of mitral valve prolapse in Asian Indians". Am. J. Cardiol. 86 (6): 695–697. doi:10.1016/S0002-9149(00)01057-2. PMID 10980229.
- Throwback | First Cut: The Triple Nipple Club | Free Video Clips from Channel 4
- Channel 4 - FourDocs blog - First Cut line-up
- AskMen.com - Mark Wahlberg's third nipple love
- YouTube - Lilly Allen Third Nipple
- Salon | Why do men have nipples?
External links
| Classification | |
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| External resources |