The breasts contain hormonally-responsive glandular tissue. Cells within this tissue sense the presence of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, and respond to these hormones by dividing and promoting breast development. Gynecomastia develops when hormonal imbalances lead to excess breast tissue growth in men, resulting in the development of feminine-looking breasts. It often develops as a result of an underlying disorder, and may be treated by a number of methods.
Discontinuing Anti-Androgen Medication
Some medications, such as anti-androgen medications used to treat testicular cancer, list gynecomastia as a possible side effect. This is because these medications alter the normal androgen balance in the body and, therefore, interfere with normal hormone signaling in the male breast tissue. Under normal conditions, androgens help suppress typically female characteristics, such as breast growth. In the presence of anti-androgen medications, the breasts may begin to grow and the patient eventually develops gynecomastia. OncoLink, a cancer resource run by the University of Pennsylvania, indicates that gynecomastia as a result of anti-androgen therapy typically resolves itself after cessation of treatment.
Mastectomy
In severe cases, patients with gynecomastia may undergo a breast removal surgery called a mastectomy. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the breast and carefully removes the glandular tissue within the breast. MayoClinic.com indicates that a mastectomy provides a relatively simple and non-invasive treatment for gynecomastia, since the surgery requires only small incisions and has a fairly short recovery time. However, a mastectomy may not treat the underlying condition causing gynecomastia, so patients who have undergone a mastectomy may still experience other side effects from an underlying disease.
Other Surgeries
In some cases, breast growth in men develops from hormone-secreting tumors such as tumors in the pituitary gland. During tumor development, cells within the pituitary gland produce and secrete hormones, while the tumor growth itself also interferes with normal gland functioning, leading to hormonal imbalances. The most common type of hormone-producing pituitary tumor is a prolactinoma, or prolactin-secreting tumor, according to the UCLA Health System. Men with gynecomastia must undergo medical testing to determine whether their condition is a result of a tumor. Once diagnosed, men with gynecomastia may undergo surgery to remove the tumor, correct their hormone balance and ultimately, treat their gynecomastia.
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