What Are the Signs of Cancerous Change in Accessory Breast Tissue?

There are many types of breast diseases, and accessory breasts are a common type. The causes of accessory breasts are diverse, including both congenital and acquired factors. Acquired accessory breasts are often caused by hormonal changes in the body and depressive moods. Accessory breasts can have significant harm to women's bodies and should be taken seriously with timely measures taken for treatment. However, many women with accessory breasts worry about the possibility of cancer development.

Signs of cancerous transformation in accessory breasts include:

1. Lumps are the initial symptom of accessory breast cancer. According to reports, most lumps are located in the outer upper quadrant, followed by the inner upper and nipple-areolar regions, with fewer found below. The size of the lumps varies, with 2-3cm being the most common. They are mostly single, but occasionally multiple. The lumps are often round or oval, with unclear boundaries, and are generally hard and poorly mobile.

2. Most patients with accessory breast cancer lack painful symptoms. Due to the rarity of pain, breast cancer is not easily detected in its early stages. Pain often manifests as stabbing, distending, or dull pain in the breasts. Periodic pain may also occur if the cancer is accompanied by cystic hyperplasia of the breasts.

3. Changes in breast skin occur as the breast tissue is surrounded by the superficial fascia located under the skin, and the superficial and deep fascia are connected by Cooper's ligaments. Since the superficial fascia is connected to the skin, when breast cancer invades and shortens the Cooper's ligaments between the breasts, it can pull the skin, causing local depression of the skin, resembling a dimple, known as the "dimple sign." This condition can also be caused by direct adhesion of the tumor to the skin. The dimple sign can appear early in breast cancer and is more evident when the affected arm is moved up and down.

4. Changes in the contour of the accessory breasts occur when the lumps are large, resulting in local bulging and enlargement of the accessory breasts. When the tumor involves the skin or pectoral muscles, it can make the breasts harder. When the patient is sitting upright, the affected breast may be raised.

5. Nipple discharge should be carefully evaluated when it is bloody or serosanguinous, and further examination is recommended.