Abnormal enlargement of breast tissue in men.
The development of the breasts when physiologically inappropriate.
Inappropriate development of the mammary glands in males.
Abnormal enlargement of the breasts of a male, generally resulting from too much of the female sex hormone estrogen. Temporary swelling of a male’s breasts can occur in newborns (from hormones from his mother) and at puberty, when the body is going through many hormonal changes. Gynecomastia is also common in males who have Klinefelter’s syndrome, and it can be a sign of disease in a male, especially a grown man, such as cirrhosis of the liver or a tumor in the testes or breast. It can be treated with hormones or surgery.
Excessive development of the breasts in males, usually the result of hormonal imbalance, liver malfunction, or treatment with various drugs, including steroids and some antihyper-tensives; may occur transiently in newborns or during puberty.
Male breast enlargement. Gynecomastia results from an increase in the ratio of estrogen to testosterone, which may be due to an increase in estrogen or a decrease in androgen hormone levels. As men age and testosterone levels fall, gynecomastia may be a relatively normal finding.
Enlargement of the breasts in the male, due either to hormone imbalance or to hormone therapy.
Enlargement of breast tissue in the male. This may occur during three distinct age periods: transiently at birth, again beginning with puberty and declining during the late teenage years, and finally in adults over age 50 years. In the newborn, it is caused by stimulation from maternal hormones. A milky secretion (“witch’s milk”) may be produced; the condition disappears within a few weeks. During middle adolescence, as many as 60% of boys may develop some degree of gynecomastia, either unilateral or bilateral and, if bilateral, often with varying degrees of growth between the two sides. It is considered a normal, nonpathological condition and usually disappears within 18 months. Hormonal assays should be performed only if the condition appears before puberty, persists longer than 2 years, or is associated with other signs of endocrine disorders. In older men, the condition can be caused by pituitary or testicular tumors, medications such as spironolactone or antiandrogens, Or cirrhosis of the liver causing enhanced activity (due to delayed liver catabolism) of naturally produced estrogens.