Supernumerary nipple commonly called “third nipple” is a minor malformation that is present by birth. People with third nipple will have additional tissue in the chest area apart from the common nipples. They are often found on the embryonic milk lines. Sometimes third nipple can occur along the lines of embryonic milk tissue or beneath the regular nipples on the chest.
In most of the cases third nipple would be seen partially with one of the milk tissue involved. Third nipple does not carry any significance clinically and is of no importance. In some cases third nipple is associated with certain types of syndrome like Char syndrome, Turner syndrome and Kaufman Mckusick syndrome.
Prevalence :
Occurrence of third nipple is very rare phenomenon. It is found in less than 1.6% of African Americans, 4.5% in Israel, and about 5% in Germans.
Symptoms :
A third nipple is often single and in rare cases 3 or more supernumerary nipples have been reported to be present in the same person. Third nipple is found unilaterally and it can be symmetric or asymmetric. In some people it is found above the normal nipples and in other cases below. For some teenage girls, developing breast would hide the third nipple and can be diagnosed only by a doctor.