Ectopic mammary tissue in unusual sites - cytological diagnosis with histopathological correlation – a report of 2 cases

Abstract

Ectopic mammary gland tissue is a residual tissue that persist during the embryologic development along ectodermal
primitive streaks. Incomplete involution anywhere along the primitive milk streak can result in ectopic mammary tissue. These are
more common in axilla and unusually occur in buttock, back of neck, face, flanks, arms, shoulders, midline of back and chest.
Vulval lesions in general are infrequent. They respond to hormonal influences at puberty, in the menstrual cycle and during
pregnancy ad lactation. Also they can develop same pathological changes as normally positioned breasts like fibroadenomas and
breast carcinomas.Case 1 : 28 year old female presented with nodular swelling in right labia majora measuring 2.5X2 cms. During
menstruation it enlarged and was associated with pain.Case 2 : 35 year old nulliparous female presented with a nodule in left groin
measuring 3X2.5cms.In both cases the nodules were firm and movable. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology was done in both and
reported as accessory breast in the first case and the second case favoured the diagnosis of fibroadenoma in accessory breast tissue.
The lesions were excised and submitted for histopathological examination. Both were confirmed to be accessory breast and
fibroadenoma in accessory breast respectively .We report here two cases of ectopic breast tissue, one in vulva and other in groin,
both diagnosed first on Fine Needle Aspiration and later confirmed by histopathological examination. To the best of our knowledge
such cases have been reported earlier but on tissue sections.