Patchy areolar hyperpigmentation 6 years after augmentation mastopexy: a case report

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2013 Apr;37(2):392-4. doi: 10.1007/s00266-013-0075-7. Epub 2013 Jan 30.

Abstract

A 42-year-old primigravida woman of 20 weeks gestation was referred to the authors for the treatment of a suspected malignant melanoma of her left areola. She had undergone bilateral augmentation mammoplasty with periareolar mastopexy elsewhere 6 years previously. Her history included partial necrosis of her left areola in the immediate postoperative period that required a long time to heal and had resulted in partial areolar depigmentation. Her left areola had a few patches of hyperpigmentation at her presentation to the authors. Specimens removed from eight involved areas showed a tissue diagnosis of benign areolar melanosis. The hyperpigmentation completely disappeared after delivery. This case is reported because of its rarity as well as its nonmalignant and self-resolving nature.

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Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Breast Implantation / adverse effects
  • Breast Implantation / methods
  • Cicatrix / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Hyperpigmentation / diagnosis
  • Hyperpigmentation / pathology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mammaplasty / adverse effects*
  • Mammaplasty / methods
  • Melanoma / diagnosis
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Melanosis / diagnosis
  • Melanosis / pathology*
  • Nipples / surgery
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*