First vacuum-assisted excision of a breast intraductal papilloma in the pediatric age group: Case report

TL;DR

This paper reports the first use of vacuum-assisted excision to treat a breast tumor in a 9-year-old, offering a less invasive alternative to surgery.

Contribution

The first documented use of vacuum-assisted excision for a breast intraductal papilloma in a pediatric patient.

Findings

Vacuum-assisted excision successfully managed a breast lesion in a 9-year-old with nipple discharge.

VAE is a less invasive and potentially safer alternative to surgical excision for pediatric breast lesions.

Abstract

Intraductal papillomas (IP) are benign breast tumors that can occur in adolescents and young women, but they are extremely rare in pediatric age group and their occurrence in pediatric patients is not well documented in the medical literature [1,2].

The standard approach for IPs in teenagers involves conservative management with careful monitoring and follow-up imaging. However, in select cases, surgical intervention may be warranted to confirm the diagnosis and prevent complications such as bleeding or infection [3,4].

A novel, less invasive alternative to surgical excision is ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision (VAE), which uses ultrasound to accurately target and extract the lesion using a vacuum-assisted device [4,5]. Compared to surgical excision, VAE offers the advantage of being a less invasive procedure, which leads to a decrease in the number of complications. Over the past 10 years, this method has become increasingly popular due to its ability to specifically and efficiently remove intraductal papilloma while minimizing risks and preserving the structure of the breast [5,6].

To our knowledge, this is the first documented use of VAE in a pediatric patient, as demonstrated in our case of a 9-year-old with nipple discharge successfully managed with VAE, highlighting its potential as a viable treatment option for pediatric breast lesions. This case highlights the potential use and success of VAE as a management option for breast lesions in pediatric patients. Further research and additional case reports are needed to further establish the efficacy and safety of this technique in this specific age group.

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