Article Text
Abstract
Accessory breast tissue (ABT) is found in approximately 2%–6% of the female population and are subject to most of the physiological and pathological changes that occur in pectoral breast. Primary breast cancer occurring in ABT is a rare occurrence and a second primary breast cancer occurring in an accessory breast has never been reported. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with a history of mastectomy for left breast cancer 5 years prior to presentation, who presented with an enlarging right axilla mass found to be a second primary breast cancer in an accessory tissue on biopsy. Many physicians are unfamiliar with the clinical presentation of accessory breast cancer due to the rarity of the condition and this ultimately results in delayed diagnosis and advanced disease at presentation. It is therefore prudent that physicians have a high index of suspicion when patients present with axillary masses.
- surgical oncology
- general surgery
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Footnotes
Contributors JKA and TG were responsible for the conception, literature review and writing of all sections of this case report. KS provided all the radiological images and interpretation of the images for this article. JC provided all the clinical data about the patient as well as images/intraoperative specimen used in this case report. KS, TG and JC were involved in the critical review of the article. All authors discussed and contributed to the final version of the case report.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.