Congenital Inverted Nipples (Since Birth)•    Chromosome 2q deletion syndrome.

•    Congenital disorder of glycosylation. 

•    Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1A.  

•    Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1L.  

•    Fryns-Aftimos syndrome.  

•    Genetically determined difference in the shape of nipple. 

•    Weaver Syndrome. 

•    Kennerknecht-Sorgo-Oberhoffer syndrome.

Chromosome 2q Deletion SyndromeThis syndrome involves deletion of certain specific cell structures known as chromosomes that carry details of the hereditary structures of the body design and function. Absence of chromosome 2q is associated with a wide variety of symptoms such as mental retardation, characteristic facial appearance, and behavioral manifestations. The presence of abnormal nipples, including inverted nipples has been observed in many individuals.

Congenital Disorder of GlycosylationThis disorder is characterized by an inborn defect of certain tissue proteins that may affect the functioning of the various organs and tissues such as the nervous system, intestines and muscles in the body. The common features include increased occurrence of seizures, eye disorders, liver disorder and many more. Presence of inverted nipples is also a common feature in this disorder. Many variants of this disorder have been identified among which congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1A and congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1L are also associated with the occurrence of nipple inversion.

Fryns-Aftimos SyndromeThis is a rare disorder which is mainly characterized by features such as abnormal brain development, epilepsy, mental retardation and unusual facial appearance. This syndrome is also associated with multiple inborn defects of the body structures among which the presence of inverted nipples is also significantly noted.

Genetically Determined Difference in the Shape of NippleThe shape and structure of all the organs and organ systems in our body are determined genetically. Many of these structural details are passed on through the generations. The shape of the breast, its size, position of nipple and their numbers are also genetically determined. Any alteration in the basic genes or the presence of a predetermined gene that governs the shape and size of the nipples can cause the nipples to be inverted.

Weaver Syndrome

Weaver syndrome is characterized by a wide variety of features that include large size of the baby at birth, faster growth and maturation, abnormalities of the hands and legs, head and facial region, nervous system and other abnormalities such as loose skin, low-pitched voice and inverted nipples.

Kennerknecht-Sorgo-Oberhoffer SyndromeThis syndrome is mainly characterized by the absence of testicles in case of men and ovaries in case of women. Other associated features include underdevelopment of the right-side portions of the heart, lungs and some blood vessels. Inversion of the nipples is also noticed in individuals affected by this syndrome along with other features such as unusual facial structure, short neck and webbing of the toes.

Acquired (Develop Later)•    Breast abscess. 

•    Breast cancer (breast carcinoma).

•    Inflammatory breast cancer.

•    Pregnancy. 

•    Breastfeeding. 

•    Fat necrosis. 

•    Holoprosencephaly, recurrent infections, and monocytosis. 

•    Tuberculosis. 

•    Mammary duct ectasia. 

•    Mastitis. 

•    Paget’s disease.

•    Surgical injury.

Breast DisordersDisorders of the breast such as breast abscess (collection of pus within the cells and tissues of the breast), fat necrosis (destruction of the fat tissues in the breast), mammary duct ectasia (expansion of the specialized structures in the breast known as mammary ducts that transport the milk produced in the breast), and mastitis (infection or inflammation of the breast tissues and structures) have all been associated with occurrence of nipple inversion. In most of the cases, correction of these disorders will make the nipples to be protracted back.

General DiseasesHoloprosencephaly, recurrent infections, and monocytosis is a group of disorders that is characterized by abnormal development of the brain, recurrent infections of the skin and respiratory system, increased concentration of certain blood cells known as monocytes and inversion of nipples. Other disorders such as tuberculosis and Paget’s disease have also been associated with the presence of inverted nipples.

Cancer

Cancer refers to an abnormal growth of cells and tissues in the affected part of the body. Breast cancer can often be characterized by different symptoms such as discharge from the nipples, inversion of the nipples, changes in the shape and consistency of the breast tissues.

Pregnancy and BreastfeedingIn certain rare cases, the nipple may invert during pregnancy and breast feeding. This may be observed due to an increase in the size of the breast that is normally noted during this period in a woman’s life.

Surgical injuryNipple inversion can occur in certain individuals as a complication of surgeries involving the breast in general or those which involve the nipples in specific.