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Quantitative Analysis of the Histological Features of Tuberous Breast

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  • Breast Surgery
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Abstract

Introduction

Tuberous breast deformity (TB) is a condition mostly characterized by breast stenosis, areolar widening and glandular asymmetry. The most accredited hypothesis describes an abnormal thickening of the fascia corporis that might influence an alteration in the glandular development, limiting the horizontal growth of breast parenchyma. Alterations in the extracellular matrix components (ECM) might be involved in the abnormal breast development.

Patients

The aim of our case control study is to use histological specimens to analyze qualitative and quantitative differences in collagen fibers, elastic fibers and vessel densities in TB and normal breasts of 20 patients using a software for digital pathology.

Results

The quantitative findings showed increasing concentrations of collagen fibers and decreasing elastic fibers in TB, compared to normal breasts. No difference was seen in vessel density among the two groups. The qualitative findings highlighted differences in the distribution of the ECM among the TB specimens. Collagen fibers showed a packed appearance rather a scattered distribution, while elastic fibers visibly presented a reduction and a focal distribution of their concentration.

Conclusions

The study proposes a correlation between abnormalities in ECM concentrations and TB, resulting in a higher degree of fibrosis and in the characteristic stenotic and less elastic morphology of the deformity.

Level of Evidence IV

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, Ospedale San Paolo, University of Milan, Via Antonio di Rudinì, 8, 20142, Milan, Italy

    Francesco Klinger

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090, Pieve Emanuele – Milan, Italy

    Valeriano Vinci, Stefanos Bonovas, Daniele Piovani & Luca Di Tommaso

  3. Humanitas Clinical and Research Center – IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano – Milan, Italy

    Valeriano Vinci, Stefanos Bonovas & Daniele Piovani

  4. Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090, Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy

    Alessia Lozito & Benedetta Agnelli

  5. Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine BIOMETRA, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery School, University of Milan, Via Manzoni 56, 20090, Rozzano, MI, Italy

    Andrea Lisa, Andrea Battistini & Marco Klinger

  6. Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, MI, Italy

    Luca Di Tommaso

Authors
  1. Francesco Klinger
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  2. Valeriano Vinci
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  3. Alessia Lozito
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  4. Benedetta Agnelli
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  5. Andrea Lisa
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  6. Andrea Battistini
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  7. Stefanos Bonovas
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  8. Daniele Piovani
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  9. Marco Klinger
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  10. Luca Di Tommaso
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Correspondence to Valeriano Vinci.

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Klinger, F., Vinci, V., Lozito, A. et al. Quantitative Analysis of the Histological Features of Tuberous Breast. Aesth Plast Surg 47, 605–611 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03127-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03127-8

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