Gynecomastia is a non-malignant increase of tissues in the mammary glands of a male individual. This may lead to the bulging of one or both male breasts.
Prevalence
Incidence of this condition among newborns without symptoms is approximated between 60 to 90 percent. The next height of incidence is at ages 10 to 16 years old. According to a recent research report using 6,200 male subjects between the ages 1-19 years old, incidence of this condition is approximated at 4 percent among males 10 to 19 years of age. The final peak of occurrence is observed among males between 50 to 85 years old with up to seventy percent prevalence. Bilateral conditions are more frequent as compared to unilateral cases which account to about 35 to 45 percent prevalence.
Types
•The major attribute of true gynecomastia is the existence of significant amount of tissues in the mammary gland below the area of the nipple on the chest. If a person is overweight or slim, this will determine the amount of fat tissue on the glandular tissue. Glandular tissues cannot be eradicated through diet modification or increased physical activity.
•Puffy nipple areola complex is a typical type of this condition. This collection of glandular or fat tissue can be situated beneath the nipple-areola or partially extended beyond the areola. This may cause the areola to have the shape of a cone or dome. This occurs within any age bracket but more commonly among young adults.
•Pure glandular is caused by the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and therefore, usually occurs among weight lifters or body builders. Because the fat levels are low, individuals have the pure glandular type. This problem is resolved mostly through surgery and less often through liposuction.
•Adolescent type is congenital and inherited. It affects 9 to 14 year old boys and 30 to 60 percent of them develop big breasts. Some of these kids grow to adulthood with large breasts. In some cases, the problem will lessen as the kid ages and may be modified through surgical procedure after reaching the age of 18 years old. Adolescent type in severe form may be recommended for surgery with the consent and approval of the patient, his parents, his attending specialists, and child psychology professionals.
•Adult gynecomastia is the most common form wherein the gland tissue has different levels of fat deposits.
•Pseudo-gynecomastia is not comprised of gland tissue but only of fat tissue. It appears like the true form but may need a less severe kind of treatment since it can be managed to a certain extent with modified diet and exercise. In majority of the cases, surgery is highly recommended and rarely liposuction.
•The asymmetric or unilateral form may affect both breasts but in varying degrees. The other breast may not appear severely affected.
•The severe form has excessive skin with sagging appearance. The breasts may look extremely large. This form usually affects the elderly whose skin is less elastic. Individuals who have lost so much weight with dieting are also categorized as having the severe type of this condition.
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