Gynecomastia- Signs and symptoms-Causes- Treatment

Gynecomastia
is a common disorder of the endocrine system in which there is a non-cancerous increase in the size of male breast tissue Newborn and adolescent males often experience temporary gynecomastia due to the influence of maternal hormones and hormonal changes during puberty, However, 75% of pubertal gynecomastia cases resolve within two years of onset without treatment.[4] In rare cases, gynecomastia has been known to occur in association with certain disease states

Signs and symptoms
The classic feature of gynecomastia is male breast enlargement with soft, compressible, and mobile subcutaneous chest tissue palpated under the areola of the nipple in contrast to softer fatty tissue. This enlargement may occur on one side or both  Milky discharge from the nipple is also not a typical finding, but may be seen in a gynecomastic individual with a prolactin secreting tumor Males with gynecomastia may appear anxious or stressed due to concerns about the possibility of having breast cance




Causes
Gynecomastia is thought to be caused by an altered ratio of estrogens to androgens mediated by an increase in estrogen production, a decrease in androgen production, or a combination of these two factors Drugs and liver disease are the most common cause in adults

Treatment
Medical treatment of gynecomastia is most effective when done within the first two years after the start of male breast enlargement If chronic gynecomastia is treated, surgical removal of glandular breast tissue is usually required.[9] Surgical approaches to the treatment of gynecomastia include subcutaneous mastectomy, liposuction-assisted mastectomy