Supernumerary nipple

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview

A supernumerary nipple (also known as a third nipple, triple nipple, thripple, accessory nipple, polythelia or polymastia) is an additional nipple occurring in mammals, including humans. Often mistaken for moles, supernumerary nipples are diagnosed at a rate of 1 in 18 humans^[1].

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

The nipples appear along the two vertical “milk lines“, which start in the armpit on each side, run down through the typical nipples and end at the groin. They are classified into eight levels of completeness from a simple patch of hair to a milk-bearing breast in miniature. ^[2]^[3]

Skin

Trunk

Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]
Supernumerary nipples. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[4]

type	glandular tissue	nipple	areola	fat tissue	hair patch
1	yes
2	yes	yes
3	yes		yes
4	yes
5 (“pseudomamma”)		yes	yes	yes
6 (“polythelia”)		yes
7 (“polythelia areolaris”)			yes
8 (“polythelia pilosa “)					yes

Polythelia refers to the presence of an additional nipple alone while polymastia denotes the much rarer presence of additional mammary glands.

Although usually presenting on the milk line, pseudomamma can appear as far away as the foot.^[5]

A possible relationship with mitral valve prolapse has been proposed.^[6]

References

↑ BBC article with reference to the rate of extra nipples appearing in humans —
↑ Kajava Y. The proportions of supernumerary nipples in the Finnish population. Duodecim 1915;1:143-70.
↑ “eMedicine – Breast Embryology : Article by Don R Revis, Jr, MD”. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
↑ ^4.00 ^4.01 ^4.02 ^4.03 ^4.04 ^4.05 ^4.06 ^4.07 ^4.08 ^4.09 “Dermatology Atlas”.
↑ “Pseudomamma on the foot: An unusual presentation of supernumerary breast tissue”. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
↑ Rajaratnam K, Kumar PD, Sahasranam KV (2000). “Supernumerary nipple as a cutaneous marker of mitral valve prolapse in Asian Indians”. Am. J. Cardiol. 86 (6): 695–7, A9. doi:10.1016/S0002-9149(00)01057-2. PMID 10980229.

External links

Healthwise “Accessory nipples (polythelia) and breast tissue (polymastia)” at uhseast.com, accessed 26 December 2004
BBC: Cancer hope over breast gene find at BBC
My physical deformity at infactah.com
The Superfluous Nipple news and information blog.