Gynecomastia overview
|
Gynecomastia Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Gynecomastia overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Gynecomastia overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Gynecomastia, or gynaecomastia, pronounced Template:IPA is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement, which can sometimes cause secretion of milk.[1] The term comes from the Greek gyne meaning "woman" and mastos meaning "breast". The condition can occur physiologically in neonates, in adolescents,adults and in the elderly. In adolescent boys the condition is a source of distress, but for the large majority of boys whose pubertal gynecomastia is not due to obesity, the breast development shrinks or disappears within a couple of years [2]. The common type of gynecomastia in males undergoing pueberty is idiopathic in nature.One should be aware that several causes of gynecomastia have significant sequela and need to be ruled out ethier by history and or laboratory examinations prior to treatment of the disorder. The most common presentation of gynecomastia is idiopathic in nature. It is important to note that pituitary and adrenal tumors can result in gynecomastia. In addition several other endocrinological disorders such as klinefelters syndrome can be associated with gynecomastia and should be ruled out in pre pubertal individuals.Male breast cancer although rare needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis, particularly in cases that are of rapid onset and are unilateral in nature. Several types of exogenously injested substances , most notably steroids, can result in gynecomastia. Breast prominence can result from hypertrophy of breast tissue, chest adipose tissue and skin, and is typically in combination. Two types of tissue : glandular ,breast tissue , and fat ,adipose cells,compose the tissue in the breast. Optimal treatment needs to be directed at correction of the glandular and fatty tissue along with the skin envelope in each patient. As the relative volumes of the aforementioned components of the breast differ from individual to individual a patient specific treament plan needs to be established in all cases.The treatment plan in addition to correction of the obvious physical manifestations of the disease may need to be combined with an appropriate medical workup to establish and if necessary treat any concomitant disorder. [3] [4].
References
- ↑ The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary. "KMLE American Heritage Medical Dictionary definition of gynecomastia".
- ↑ Adolescent gynecomastia
- ↑ Braunstein, GD (1993). "Gynecomastia". N Engl J Med. 328 (7): 490–5. PMID 8421478. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Allee, Mark R (2006-11-15). "Gynecomastia". WebMD, Inc. (emedicine.com). Retrieved 2007-05-20.