Effect of gigantomastia on School attendance

Abstract

Introduction. We have been seeing a number of juvenile/teenage girls presenting to our out patient department with gigantomastia/large breasts. These school going girls had not been attending school due to the large breasts and taunting by school mates as well as scrutiny by the public.

Aims and Objectives.

To do Reduction Mammoplasty.

To do histological investigation.

To encourage these teenage girls to go back to school.

Materials and Methods.

Nine juvenile/teenage girls aged between 11 and 16 years were prospectively enrolled for this study from 2016 to 2020. Eight had reduction mammaplasty and one had sub cutaneous mastectomy with free nipple graft. The specimens were weighed and sent for histology.

Results. Nine juvenile/teenage girls were included. The age range was 11- 16 years and the weight range was 27-33 Kg. Loss of school attendance time was 3 months to 2 years. Median weight of excised breast tissue was 2.5(1.2 – 5 kg.

Histology.  Normal breast =  6,  Fibroadenosis = 3.

Conclusion.

Gigantomastia affected school attendance by as much as two years.

Reduction mammoplasty was our treatment of choice.

Taunting and lack of fitting clothes affected self-esteem of these patients.

The juvenile girls have now returned back to school.