We report a case of accessory mammary tissue of type 2a (or polythelia) entirely localized within a Becker’s naevus of mixed type in a 32-year-old Caucasian woman. Polythelia was congenital in origin while Becker’s naevus appeared during puberty. Renal ultrasonographic studies, laboratory examinations and other instrumental investigations were either normal or negative. Although the association of accessory mammary tissue with Becker’s naevus has previously been reported – also in the form of mammorenal and acromammorenal syndromes – this is the first case characterized by an anatomic overlap between the two anomalies. It may be the expression of a common disturbance acting early in embryogenesis in the specific developmental fields involved.

Keywords:
Accessory mammary tissue, Polythelia, Becker’s naevus, Embryogenesis, Developmental fields, Kidney anomalies, Mammorenal syndromes
1.
Urbani CE, Betti R: The ‘grading’ of accessory mammary tissue: A proposal for a new clinico-morphological classification. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 1996;7(suppl 2):122.
2.
Becker SW: Concurrent melanosis and hypertrichosis in distribution of nevus unius lateris. Arch Dermatol Syph 1949;60:155–160.
3.
Person JR, Longcope C: Becker’s nevus: An androgen-mediated hyperplasia with increased androgen receptors. J Am Acad Dermatol 1984; 10:235–238.
4.
Urbani CE, Betti R: Supernumerary nipples and Becker’s nevus: A previously undescribed association: Report of 9 patients including a subset with uropathies. Eur J Dermatol 1995;5: 685–687.
5.
Urbani CE, Betti R: Accessory Mammary Tissue in Clinical Practice. Milan, McGraw-Hill, 1996, pp 41–49.
6.
Panizzon R, Brungger A, Vogel A: Zur Problematik des Becker-Nävus. Hautarzt 1984;35: 578–584.
7.
Copeman PWM, Wilson Jones EW: Pigmented hairy epidermal nevus (Becker). Arch Dermatol 1965;92:249–251.
8.
Glinick SE, Alper JC, Bogaars H, Brown JA: Becker’s melanosis: Associated abnormalities. J Am Acad Dermatol 1983;9:509–514.
9.
Mascaro JM, Galy de Mascaro C, Pinol J: Historia natural del nevus de Becker. Med Cutan Ibero Lat Am 1970;4:109–117.
10.
Formigon M, Alsina MM, Mascaro JM, Rivera F: Becker’s nevus and ipsilateral breast hypoplasia: Androgen receptors study in two patients (letter). Arch Dermatol 1992;128: 992–993.
11.
Lucky AW, Saruk M, Lerner AB: Becker’s nevus associated with limb asymmetry. Arch Dermatol 1981;117:243.
12.
Szylit JA, Grossman ME, Luyando Y, Olarte MR, Nagler H: Becker’s nevus and an accessory scrotum. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986;14: 905–907.
13.
Lambert JR, Willems P, Abs R, Van Roy B: Becker’s nevus associated with chromosomal mosaicism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;30:655–657.
14.
Urbanek RW, Johnson WC: Smooth muscle hamartoma associated with Becker’s nevus. Arch Dermatol 1978;114:104–106.
15.
Fensek NA, Donelan PA: Becker’s nevus coexistent with connective tissue nevus. Arch Dermatol 1984;120:1347–1350.
16.
Chapel TA, Tavafoghi V, Mehregan A, Gagliardi C: Becker’s melanosis: An organoid hamartoma. Cutis 1981;27:405–415.
17.
Burgreen BL, Ackerman AB: Acneiform lesions in Becker’s nevus. Cutis 1978;21: 617–619.
18.
Bardach H: Perforating granulomatous folliculitis in Becker’s nevus. Arch Dermatol Res 1979;265:49–54.
19.
Wright RC: Another association with Becker’s nevus (letter). Arch Dermatol 1979;115:1035.
20.
Optiz JM: The developmental field concept in clinical genetics. J Pediatr 1982;101:805–809.
21.
Urbani CE, Betti R: Supernumerary nipples occurring together with Becker’s naevus: An association involving one common ‘paradominant’ trait? Hum Genet 1997;100:388–390.
1998
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.