Gynecomastia in adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1116Keywords:
Gynecomastia; Adolescent; TherapeuticsAbstract
Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of male breasts due to the proliferation of glandular tissue. In adolescents, pubertal gynecomastia is the most common, and it probably occurs as a result of a transient hormonal imbalance between androgens and estrogens. Less commonly, some pathological conditions may also be the cause. Diagnostic work-up includes medical history, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging. Treatment is typically unnecessary, as spontaneous remission occurs in up to 90 % of cases. If gynecomastia persists, drug and surgical therapy are considered. Selective estrogen receptor modulators are the first line of drug therapy. Surgical treatment is considered if spontaneous remission has not occurred two years after the onset of gynecomastia. The authors suggest subcutaneous mastectomy according to Webster for milder forms, and mastectomy with removal of excess skin and free nipple graft for more severe forms of gynecomastia.
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