A developmental anomaly of the mammary glands - gigantomastia. A case report

Developmental anomalies of the breast are frequently observed in women. The most serious pathology is gigantomastia. This type of breast hypertrophy may be caused by hypersensitivity of the breast oestrogen and progesterone receptors, by disturbances of the normal balance of oestrogen and androgen hormones, by hyperthyroidism or by hormonal activity of the neoplasm. In most cases gigantomastia produces pathological changes in the vertebral column which become manifest as discopathia, scoliosis or scoliokyphosis. A case of gigantomastia treated with surgery is presented and the effect of plastic operation is demonstrated. Surgery may be recommended as an excellent therapeutic treatment of gigantomastia