Excerpted from Current Surgical Diagnosis
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Poland's syndrome consists of a variable degree of unilateral chest
deformity--usually absence of the pectoralis major muscle--associated with
hand brachysyndactyly. The hand deformity is treated according to the
severity. The latissimus dorsi muscles can be transposed to replace the
absent pectoralis major, simulating the sites of origin and insertion. In
more severe cases and in women requiring breast and chest reconstruction, the
transverse rectus abdominis island flap can be used to replace the deficit.
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I remember seeing pictures of this in my Clinical Embryology text in medical
school.  As I recall it usually only involves the pectoralis major muscle.
 The the early 1980's at the University of Iowa we had a NCAA championship
wrestler by the name of Randy Lewis who had this "variation" on one side.  I
hesitate to say that it was an abnormality as it had no effect on his winning
the NCAA championship at his weight class!

Time will only tell if this girl will develop normal breast tissue on this
side.  As the citation above states there may be considerable cosmetic
difference in size from one side of the chest to the other.  Apparently in
women this is enough to pursue corrective cosmetic surgery in some cases.
 Should the difference in chest wall contour be great enough in this patient
that surgery is considered, care should be taken to insure that an
experienced plastic surgeron would conduct the operation with great care to
preserve the existing breast and lactation structures.

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*  Jon Ahrendsen, M.D. FAAFP, LLLI Medical Associate   *
*  215 13th Ave SW                                                        *
*  Clarion, Iowa 50525  USA                                            *
*  515-532-2836, FAX 532-2523, Email [log in to unmask]   *
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