A YOUNG woman mysteriously began growing a breast on her vulva.
The 24-year-old Persian had ignored the painless growth for 12 years before deciding to visit the hospital.
Writing in the Journal of Medical Case Reports Iranian medics said the mass on otherwise healthy woman's labia "resembled a penis".
After removing the growth, doctors sent samples for testing which revealed the mass was made up of breast tissue, suggesting the growth was an accessory breast.
Accessory breasts can develop anywhere along the milk line – which begins at the underarms, down the chest and abdomen, towards the groin.
Breasts can develop anywhere along these lines of tissue, but in humans, they usually only emerge around the chest area.
Read more on unusual growths
Docs discover man’s weird growth on his middle fingernail is another tiny NAIL
Dr Pimple Popper removes man’s ‘3rd testicle’ after growth developed between legs
In very rare occasions, the breast tissue will also grow at other places on the milk line, such as on the groin.
In most cases, the condition, which affects up to 6 per cent of women and 3 per cent of men, shows itself as a rouge nipple.
"The presence of an accessory breast in the vulva is extremely rare," the doctors wrote.
Breast cancer can sometimes occur in accessory breast tissue, particularly if the tissue is larger and more developed.
Most read in Health
Our 3 teen daughters killed themselves within months in NHS hospital
Reason why some Brits have extra long noses revealed
From picking noses to queue-jumping – why having bad manners is bad for you
Major change to prescription rules revealed – will you be affected?
If you notice any symptoms, such as swelling and tenderness, or restriction in the range of arm motion, or are otherwise concerned, you should see your doctor, the NHS warns.
The NHS does offer surgery for accessory breast tissue, but it authorisation depends on where you live and a set of criteria.
Source: Read Full Article