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Supernumerary Nipple

Table of Contents

Supernumerary Nipple

Accessory Nipple; Ectopic Nipple; Extra Nipple; Third Nipple

A supernumerary nipple is a common, minor birth defect that consists of an extra nipple (and/or related tissue) in addition to the two nipples that normally appear on the chest. Most supernumerary nipples do not cause symptoms or complications. They often are small and go undetected.

Old man with supernumerary nipples

Image by Wellcome/Wikimedia

Summary

Third Nipple (Male)

Image by Zureks/Wikimedia

Third Nipple (Male)

Supernumerary third nipple (male)

Image by Zureks/Wikimedia

What Is Supernumerary Nipple?

A supernumerary nipple is a common, minor birth defect that consists of an extra nipple (and/or related tissue) in addition to the two nipples that normally appear on the chest. Most supernumerary nipples do not cause symptoms or complications. They often are small and go undetected. Sometimes they are first noticed during puberty, menstruation, or pregnancy when hormonal changes affect breast tissue. They can be present with no other tissue (polythelia); with some related tissue; or with breast tissue and ducts (then referred to as polymastia). They are usually located along areas of the body known as the "embryonic milk lines," the lines of potentially appearing breast tissue. The embryonic milk lines extend on both sides of the body from slightly above the armpit, down the chest and abdomen, to the inner thighs near the groin.

Supernumerary nipples are usually not inherited but familial cases have been reported. Most people do not need treatment, but the nipple and related tissue can be removed for cosmetic purposes or if there is discomfort.

Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

Types

Man with supernumerary nipples

Image by Wellcome Trust/Wikimedia

Man with supernumerary nipples

Watercolour, pencil and conté drawing of the front of the chest of a man aged 31 years, who had a supernumerary nipple on each side, situated at about two inches below the normal nipple. From a patient in John Ward under Dr Henry Jeaffreson, physician to St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1866. Medical Photographic Library Keywords: Godart, Thomas

Image by Wellcome Trust/Wikimedia

How Many Types of Supernumerary Nipples Are There?

Supernumerary nipples were classified into 8 categories in 1915, and this classification is still used today:

Complete supernumerary nipple - Nipple and areola and glandular breast tissue (also called polymastia, or supernumerary breast)
Supernumerary nipple - Nipple and glandular tissue (no areola)
Supernumerary nipple - Areola and glandular tissue (no nipple)
Aberrant glandular tissue only (breast tissue with no nipple or areola)
Supernumerary nipple - Nipple and areola and pseudomamma (fat tissue that replaces the glandular tissue)
Supernumerary nipple - Nipple only (called polythelia, the most common supernumerary nipple)
Supernumerary nipple - Areola only (polythelia areolaris)
Patch of hair only (polythelia pilosa) - may be a marker of underlying breast tissue

Although this classification is clear, people with a supernumerary nipple may encounter interchangeable terms or the inaccurate use of terms. This may be due to the range of variability from person to person. The likely reason that more recent descriptions are scarce in the literature is the relatively minor significance of a supernumerary nipple, from a health perspective.

Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

Diagnosis

Breast Exam

Also called: Clinical Breast Exam, CBE

A clinical breast exam (CBE) is a physical exam of the breast performed by a health care provider to check for lumps or other changes. It’s often done during your regular medical check-up. If a CBE is not offered at your check-up and you would like one, ask your health care provider to perform one (or refer you to someone who can).

Breast Exam

Also called: Clinical Breast Exam, CBE

A clinical breast exam (CBE) is a physical exam of the breast performed by a health care provider to check for lumps or other changes. It’s often done during your regular medical check-up. If a CBE is not offered at your check-up and you would like one, ask your health care provider to perform one (or refer you to someone who can).

{"label":"Breast Exam Reference Range","scale":"lin","step":0.25,"hideunits":true,"items":[{"flag":"normal","label":{"short":"Normal","long":"Normal","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":0,"max":1},"text":"A normal result means that the nipples, breast tissue, and areas around the breast look normal and are normal in size and shape. A normal result does not mean that breast cancer is not present. Depending on your age and your personal and family history of breast cancer, your health care provider may do other tests, such as a mammogram.","conditions":[]},{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"Abnormal","long":"Abnormal","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":1,"max":2},"text":"An abnormal result can detect various issues concerning the nipples, breast tissue and the areas around the breast. If your exam does find something abnormal, you\u2019ll need follow-up tests to check whether or not the finding is breast cancer.","conditions":["Breast abscess","Breast lumps","Breast cysts","Breast cancer","Fibrocystic changes","Mastitis"]}],"value":0.5}[{"normal":0},{"abnormal":0}]
Use the slider below to see how your results affect your health.
Your result is Normal.
A normal result means that the nipples, breast tissue, and areas around the breast look normal and are normal in size and shape. A normal result does not mean that breast cancer is not present. Depending on your age and your personal and family history of breast cancer, your health care provider may do other tests, such as a mammogram.
Related conditions
1. PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Breast Cancer Screening. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. [accessed on Jan 15, 2022]
2. Breast Exam | Michigan Medicine [accessed on Jan 15, 2022]

Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

Additional Materials (8)

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Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hands examining her. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hands examining her. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hands examining. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hands examining. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hand examining. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hands examining. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up with a doctors hands examining. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

This is a series of 16 photos demonstrating the 16 steps of a clinical breast examination. The image shows a female nude from the waist up. The steps are as follows: 1) arms in normal position 2) arms on hips 3) pressed forward elbows 4) pressed forward 5) arms overhead 6) arms overhead 7) arms raised and pressing down 8) exam of cervical nodes 9) exam of supraclavicular 10) infraclavicular 11) axilla 12) exam of breast 13) axilla 14) breast exam 15) exam of nipple 16) exam of nipple for discharge.

Image by National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Sensitive content

This media may include sensitive content

Breast Exam (Series of 16)

National Cancer Institute / Photogroup (Photographer)

Treatment

Surgery

Image by Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara/Wikimedia

Surgery

U.S. Air Force Maj Jonathan Forbes, 455th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron neurosurgeon looks through loupes as he performs brain surgery at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 10, 2014. The loupes allow Forbes to see the surgery at a two times magnification. Forbes removed an 8-centimeter tumor during the five-hour surgery. Forbes is deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and is a native of New Martinsville, W.Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III/Released) Unit: 455th Air Expeditionary Wing

Image by Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara/Wikimedia

How Might Supernumerary Nipple Be Treated?

A thorough work-up for other malformations typically is not needed in a person with a supernumerary nipple who is otherwise healthy. However, a work-up may be recommended if a person has:

a supernumerary nipple accompanied by additional minor malformations
a prominent ectopic (abnormally-positioned) supernumerary nipple
an established family history of supernumerary nipples

Physical exams and mammography of ectopic breast tissue should occur at the frequency recommended for normal breast tissue in any particular person. Supernumerary nipples can undergo similar diseases to normal breast tissue.

Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

Related HealthJournals

Mammary Glands

Mammary glands and structurally modified sweat glands but their function is to produce milk. Mammary glands are present in both sexes, but usually are functional only in the female.

Breast Anatomy

Breasts are complex, specialized organs whose primary function is to produce milk. They are made up mainly of fat and breast tissue, and each breast contains several milk glands with ducts that carry milk to the nipples. Learn more about breast anatomy.

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Supernumerary Nipple

A supernumerary nipple is a common, minor birth defect that consists of an extra nipple (and/or related tissue) in addition to the two nipples that normally appear on the chest. Most supernumerary nipples do not cause symptoms or complications. They often are small and go undetected.

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