What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is defined as the abnormal development of breasts in men.
Causes
1. Physiological: Newborns, adolescence, aging.
2. Pathological:
a. Deficient testosterone increased estrogen.
b. Congenital absence of testes.
c. Eunuchs.
d. Testicular failure e.g. viral infections, injury, castration.
e. Testicular tumors.
f. Drugs e.g. estrogen, cimetidine, etc which inhibit testosterone synthesis.
g. Unknown.
Adolescent gynecomastia
This occurs in many boys during puberty. The average is about 14 years. It is often asymmetric,
occasionally single-sided and frequently tender. It regresses by age 20.
Management
Surgery when there are psychological disturbances or cosmetic reasons.