Internipple Distance and Internipple Index in Prepubertal Turkish Girls

OBJECTIVE: To determine internipple distance and internipple index in prepubertal Turkish girls. METHODS: The internipple distance and chest circumference of 667 healthy prepubertal Turkish girls aged 6 to 11 years were measured in a school screening program in Düzce. Measurements were performed at the end of expiration with a standard non-stretch tape measure graduated in millimeters with the arms hanging in a relaxed position on the sides of the body. The internipple distance was measured between the centers of both nipples, and chest circumference was measured across the internipple line. The internipple index was calculated by dividing the internipple distance (cm) x100 by the chest circumference (cm). Age specific internipple index reference curves were constructed and smoothed with the Lambda-Mu-Sigma method. Mean and standard deviations of internipple distance and internipple index were calculated according to decimal ages. RESULTS: Age was found to be positively correlated with internipple distance and chest circumference, while it was negatively correlated with internipple index. The reference values of internipple index, including 3(rd), 10(th), 25(th), 50(th), 75(th), 90(th), and 97(th) percentiles, and standard deviations were calculated for prepubertal girls. CONCLUSION: The reference ranges provided by this study might be helpful for the evaluation of syndromic cases by serving as normative data for internipple index in prepubertal girls aged 6-11 years in Turkey although ethnic differences may affect applicability to other countries.