Gynecomastia is defined as the hypertrophy of a man’s breast, which leads a man’s breast to resemble, regarding the shape, the woman’s breast. This situation is a relatively frequent disorder of men’s breasts.
What are the causes of gynecomastia?
It is caused when there is excess of estrogens compared to androgens in the organism and it can develop either as a normal or a pathological case.
Gynecomastia as a natural case
Gynecomastia can normally appear in three different age periods:
- Neonatal age:During this period, gynecomastia is caused by the transport of estrogens from the mother to the infant through the placenta.
- Puberty: Gynecomastia is usually developed at the age of 12-15 years and often develops only on one side.
- Mature age: Between the age of 50-80 years and usually over 70 years, gynecomastia develops as a result of the low level of testosterone in the organism.
Gynecomastia as a pathological case
When gynecomastia is defined as a pathological case, its causes can be the following:
- Lack of testosterone / androgens
2. Increased levels of estrogens
3. Medicines which influence the levels and the action of estrogens or testosterone
4. Tumors of various organs, such as the testicles, the bronchi, the adrenal glands, the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus.
5. Systemic diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, hyperthyroidism and eating disorders.
Diagnosis of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia can develop either progressively or appear suddenly with a painful swelling of one or even both breasts, or even represent an accidental finding during clinical examination.
Contact your breast specialist in the event that you:
- Realize an increase of the size of your breasts
- Feel pain in your breasts
- Feel any rigidity in the area behind the nipple
The breast specialist will ask you to undergo certain examinations which include palpation of the breasts and testicles, a mammography, a breast ultrasonography and, in certain cases, a biopsy with a fine needle (FNA) or a core biopsy, in order to confirm the disease and exclude the probability of the existence of cancer in the area.
Moreover, it is likely to carry out other certain tests, such as a chest X-ray or liver ultrasound.
Treatment of Gynecomastia
When the diagnostic approach reveals a pharmaceutical regimen as the cause, change of medicines or even their interruption is recommended. If gynecomastia is due to pathological, e.g. endocrinological causes, the doctor will proceed to treatment of these underlying causes.
If gynecomastia does not recede or worsens or if it causes pain, surgical removal of the mammary gland is recommended, during which, however, the nipple and areola are not removed (subcutaneous mastectomy or even liposuction).