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. 2022 May 26;10(5):e4355.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004355. eCollection 2022 May.

Review of Tuberous Breast Deformity: Developments over the Last 20 Years

Alessia Lozito  1 , Valeriano Vinci  1   2 , Eleonora Talerico  1 , Rosanna Asselta  2 , Luca Di Tommaso  1   2 , Benedetta Agnelli  1 , Marco Klinger  3 , Francesco Klinger  4
Affiliations

Review of Tuberous Breast Deformity: Developments over the Last 20 Years

Alessia Lozito et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Tuberous breast (TB) deformity is a condition characterized by alterations in breast morphology and tissue structure with high prevalence in the general population. The literature provides sparse descriptions of TB, as not many investigations on the condition have been conducted. The aim of this review was to analyze and provide a holistic overview on the morphological characteristics of the TB.

Methods: A review of current literature was performed using the PubMed database from 2001 to 2021. The key words used for the review included "tuberous breast," "constricted breast," and "stenotic breast." We included articles that analyzed the anatomic and histologic characteristics of TB.

Results: From 213 articles, only 42 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 171 articles were excluded, as they were letters, not related to the condition, or were written in a foreign language. The studies in this review drew on hypothesis on the embryological origin of TB and analyzed the composition of TB tissues, consisting in a constricting fibrous ring, made of longitudinally arranged collagen and elastic fibers. Furthermore, the review reports the different anatomical and surgical classifications, as well as the various surgical corrective procedures developed throughout history up to 2021.

Conclusion: The review describes all etiological, epidemiologic, anatomical, histological, and surgical characteristics of tuberous breast.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Preoperative stenotic characteristics of TB in a young woman seen in our practice. Preoperative tuberous breast frontal (A) and oblique (B) views.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Postoperative results of the same patient, surgically corrected using a periareolar approach, glandular detachment, tissue scoring, breast implant placement and fat grafting procedures. Postoperative tuberous breast frontal (A) and oblique (B) views.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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