This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Virginal breast hypertrophy

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Virginal or juvenile breast breast hypertrophyis a rare and distinct disorder with the rapid onset of macromastia at the onset of puberty. Most patients with macromastia have breasts which develop normally at puberty but simply reach excessive size (1,2). One review revealed that 108 patients were reported in the medical literature between 1910 and 2006, and amongst these, 57 had a clear diagnosis of juvenile gigantomastia (2).

The aetiology remains elusive but it is thought to be the result of an abnormal stimulation of mammary tissue by normal levels of circulating hormones that manifests as rapid and excessive breast enlargement at any stage in the peripubertal period.

Management may include:

  • tamoxifen therapy should be considered from onset of diagnosis
  • a subcutaneous mastectomy with complete removal of breast tissue is the procedure least likely to lead to recurrence but is more deforming
  • reduction mammaplasty has a relatively better aesthetic result compared to subcutaneous mastectomy, but it is important to counsel the patient about the likelihood of increased recurrence
  • tamoxifen therapy following surgery may decrease the recurrence rate

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.