Gestational gigantomastia with fatal outcome

Gigantomastia is a rare disease defined by an extreme and rapid enlargement of the breast, generally bilateral. The majority of cases are reported in pregnant women. Ninety-eight cases of gestational gigantomastia have been identified in electronic databases, and those with fatal outcomes comprised...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Natalia Rakislova, Lucilia Lovane, Fabiola Fernandes, Emília Gonçalves, Quique Bassat, Sibone Mocumbi, Jaume Ordi, Carla Carrilho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of São Paulo 2021-08-01
Series:Autopsy and Case Reports
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Online Access:https://www.revistas.usp.br/autopsy/article/view/187744
Description
Summary:Gigantomastia is a rare disease defined by an extreme and rapid enlargement of the breast, generally bilateral. The majority of cases are reported in pregnant women. Ninety-eight cases of gestational gigantomastia have been identified in electronic databases, and those with fatal outcomes comprised only 2 cases (2%). Despite its benign nature, it can lead to severe complications and even death. Its etiology has not been fully elucidated, but it has been speculated that a hormonal component may play a role in the pathogenesis. Currently, treatment options are limited, and surgery is gaining importance, but it is often not feasible in low-resource settings. Herein, we describe a case of a 30-year-old HIVpositive female with no relevant past medical history, who died due to the complications of gestational gigantomastia at the Maputo Central Hospital, in Mozambique.
ISSN:2236-1960