Supernumerary nipple

Types

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.

Clinical significance

Clinical presentation

It may remain undetected. Occasionally, the supernumerary nipple is noticed when hormonal changes during adolescence, menstruation, or pregnancy cause increased pigmentation, fluctuating swelling, tenderness, or even lactation.

Associations

It is said to be found in association with many syndromes and other conditions:

• McKusick–Kaufman syndrome
• Char syndrome
• Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome

A possible connection with mitral valve prolapse has been proposed.

Treatment and prognosis

Most often no treatment is required; however, a protruding embarrassing supernumerary nipple can be removed surgically, if desired. Removal using liquid nitrogen cryotherapy has also been described.

Society and culture

Television

The Triple Nipple Club is a documentary shown on Channel 4 which explored the biological mystery of the supernumerary nipple. First broadcast on 2 January 2008, it was directed and produced by Dan Louw and commissioned as part of Channel 4's First Cut series. The film focuses on Louw's attempts to understand why he was born with extra nipples, a condition he shares with the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Lily Allen, and Tilda Swinton, as well as TV and film characters such as the James Bond villain Francisco Scaramanga and Chandler Bing from Friends. Fascinated and confused by this seemingly pointless mutation, Louw sets off on a personal journey of discovery to try and unwrap "the riddle of the triple nipple". He starts out by consulting the man in the street and a renowned teratologist, an expert in physical mutations. After testing the notion that extra nipples could be a sign of fertility, he discovers that they are actually an atavism, or evolutionary 'holdover'—a sign of how humans evolved.

English pop-star Harry Styles confirmed in 2017 that he has four nipples as a result of the condition.

References

References

1. Rapini, Ronald P.. (2007). "Dermatology: 2-Volume Set". Mosby.
2. [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s004310050944 Supernumerary nipples: prevalence, size, sex and side predilection – a prospective clinical study], H. Schmidt, European Journal of Pediatrics volume 157, pages 821–823 (1998).
3. Kajava Y. "The proportions of supernumerary nipples in the Finnish population". ''Duodecim'' 1915; 1:143-70.
4. Revis. "Breast Embryology". eMedicine.
5. Camacho F.. (1998). "Polythelia pilosa: A Particular Form of Accessory Mammary Tissue". Dermatology.
6. (2006). "Pseudomamma on the foot: An unusual presentation of supernumerary breast tissue". Dermatology Online Journal.
7. (2000). "Supernumerary nipple as a cutaneous marker of mitral valve prolapse in Asian Indians". Am. J. Cardiol..
8. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080913235353/http://www.channel4.com/video/first-cut-the-triple-nipple-club/series-1/episode-1/throwback_p_1.html Throwback. First Cut: The Triple Nipple Club. Free Video Clips from Channel 4]
9. [http://www.channel4.com/blogs/page/fourdocs?entry=first_cut_line_up Channel 4 - FourDocs blog - First Cut line-up]
10. "AskMen.com - Mark Wahlberg's third nipple love".
11. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JbieSOsMIk YouTube - Lilly Allen Third Nipple]
12. McCarthy, Susan. (1999-06-08). "Why do men have nipples?".
13. Donahue, Rosemary. (2017-07-19). "Harry Styles Has Four Nipples, and That's More Common Than You Think".