Inverted Nipple a Sign of Breast Cancer?

If your nipple has been inverted since puberty, or since pregnancy, especially after breast feeding, this is not a concern. However, if you have had a recent change with a nipple inverting for no apparent cause, this is a concern. Some women are born with or develop inverted nipples (completely or partially) with puberty.  This is primarily due to short milk ducts inside and below the nipple, and is normal for some women. However, if you have noticed a recent change, I would suggest seeing your primary physician or a breast surgeon to make sure there is nothing abnormal developing in your breast under the nipple.

Thank you for the question.

It would be in your best interest to see a physician for consultation;  although rare nipple inversion can be a sign of malignancy of the breast.

Inverted nipples can cause functional problems for women and emotional concerns. An inverted nipple can look flat or a slit like depression or hole at the normal nipple location. There are different degrees of inverted nipples possible. Whether a patient is a candidate for correction of inverted nipples  depends on the  extent of the problem.

 

Usually correction of the inverted nipples involve division  of the lactiferous (milk ducts). The risks  of the procedure include potential loss of sensation, inability to breast-feed, recurrence of the asymmetry and the potential need for further surgery.

My advice to patients go something like this...  If the nipple is permanently inverted and does not evert  with stimulation, then it is a useless nipple  when it comes to sensitivity and/or breast-feeding. In these  cases correction of inversion is indicated (because the potential gains outweigh the risks outlined above).  On the other hand, if the nipple does evert  spontaneously with  or without stimulation,  then I am more reluctant to perform the procedure given that the risks may outweigh the potential benefits.  At that point, the decision is the patient's to make after careful consideration.

I hope this helps.