Almost two  years ago I was helping a woman with some nursing problems.
While doing a postpartum breast assessment for lactation I noticed
accessory breast tissue in the axillary area.  This tissue was engorged
and tender.  At that time I suggested cold and cabbage to treat the
engorgement while allowing the tissue to stop producing any milk.

This week a physician friend of mine showed me a case report involving a
woman who had a rather large amount of accessory breast tissue without a
nipple.  The article stated that the woman managed to breastfeed for 8
weeks by using a pump to drain the accessory breast.  The only other
possible way to deal  with  the problem, in the author's opinion, was to
cease all breastfeeding.  The concept of treating engorgement in
accessory tissue while allowing the milk supply to dry up seems not to
have been considered by the author.

My questions:
1- In such a case how would you treat the enlargement or engorgement of
accessory breast tissue?
2- Does anyone know of anything in the medical literature dealing with
this topic?  Ruth Lawrence mentions the condition in the discussion of
anatomy but does not deal with any practical ramifications or management
issues?  Does anyone else?

TIA
Sarah


Sarah Friend Barnett   LLLL, IBCLC
Bronx (New York City), NY  -  [log in to unmask]
" You are not obliged to finish the task,
 neither are you free to neglect it."       R. Tarfon

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