DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF GYNECOMASTIA BASED ON A SERIES OF 52 CASES

Gynecomastia is the commonest breast lesion in males. Fifty-two patien ts (mean age 24 years) operated in our department were reviewed with a mean follow-up of two years and a half. Gynecomastia occurred most fr equently during puberty (63 %), was bilateral (75 %) and idiopathic (6 5 %). The size of the enlargement was evaluated according to Simon's-c lassification based on breast-volume and skin-redundancy: 18 stage 1, 22 stage 2A, 9 stage 2B, 3 stage 3. Clinical examination and mammograp hy determined the consistency of gynecomastia: adipose or firm. 4 diff erent surgical managements were used: 32 subcutaneous mastectomies, 12 liposuctions, 6 liposuctions associated with subcutaneous mastectomy, 1 total mastectomy. One patient had liposuction on one side and subcu taneous mastectomy on the other one. All techniques gave good morpholo gic results. Nonetheless, the authors recommend the combination <<lipo suction' and subcutaneous mastectomy>> as this technique presents many advantages : small intraoperative blood loss, good skin redraping, sh ort hospital stay, complete histologic examination of the material rem oved.