Prevalence of Gynaecomastia in Male Pakistani Population

Gynaecomastia has an overall incidence of 32 to 40%.1 The highest prevalaence is found in old age and up to 65% in men.2 The breast tissue growth is dependent on the balance between the oestrogens and androgens; thus any physiological or pathological factor that can interfere with this balance, can result in gynaecomastia.2 Physiologically, it can be neonatal, pubertal or senile. Pathologically, it can occur in various diseases, e.g., hepatic disease, renal diseases, thyrotoxicosis,3 certain cancers like Sertoli cell tumour, bronchial carcinoma, lymphoma, gastric carcinoma,3 with the use of certain drugs, e.g., cimitidine, spironolactone, oestrogens, etc.3 Various pharmacological drugs have been tried but surgery remains the mainstay of the treatment.