Tag Archives: core biopsy

Gynecomastia

BRCA2, Breast Disease, Gynecomastia,

Gynecomastia of the male breast

  • Gynecomastia is the benign hypertrophy of the male breast
  • asymptomatic or painful
  • unilateral or bilateral
  • just below the areolar region

Age distribution

3 peaks

  • transiently during neonatal period due to motherly estrogrens
  • puberty
  • adulthood

Causes of Gynecomastia

  • Illicit drug use, especially marijuana
  • Renal, Liver disease
  • Neoplasms
  • Hyperparathyroidism

Gynecomastia’s association with cancer

  • Testicular cancer
  • BRCA2 genetic multation may lead to male breast cancer

Diagnostics for Gynecomastia

For the older patient with no obvious etiology consider:

  • LFT
  • BUN
  • Creatinine
  • Thyroid hormone
  • Prolactin level
  • FSAH, LH, DHEA
  • Testosterone
  • Bilateral mammorgram
  • FNA (fine needle aspiration) can be diagnostic or core needle biopsy, usually not a need for excisional biopsy.  Thus an excisional biopsy wouldn’t be a first line diagnostic tool in gynecomastia.