The Different Surgical Strategies for Treating Tuberous Breast Deformity: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Summary: Tuberous breast deformity is a congenital breast anomaly that emerges during puberty and is characterized by breast base constriction, breast hypoplasia, superior malposition of the inframammary fold, enlarged areola, herniation of breast tissue into the areola and breast asymmetry. Patients may exhibit one, several or all of these characteristics in their unilateral or bilateral deformity presentation. Numerous surgical treatments have been described, yet no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal treatment. A scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, clinicaltrial.gov and ICTRP databases. Inclusion criteria were English- or French-language articles published after January 1, 2000 that included at least 20 patients in their study on the surgical treatment of tuberous breast deformity in women. The initial electronic database search identified 2,210 records, 27 of which met the inclusion criteria. We summarized the 27 articles, focusing on the classification system, number of patients, treatments for hypoplasia, constricted ring, areolar herniation, enlargement and incision used. This review explored the different surgical approaches suited to the varying characteristics of tuberous breast deformity. It is important to consider the various surgical approaches to achieve the most suitable treatment as each patient presents with unique characteristics and preferences.

Keywords

• Tuberous breast
• Constricted breast
• Breast hypoplasia
• Constricted ring
• Areolar herniation