Gynecomastia in adult Sudanese patients

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the magnitude of gynaecomastia and to investigate its presentations and the
underlying causes in adult Sudanese patients who presented to Soba University hospital and Khartoum
Teaching hospital during the period between April 2005 and August 2013
Patients and methods: This is a retro-prospective analytical hospital based study of all patients presenting
with gynaecomastia during the period between April 2005 and August 2013.
Data from notes including presentation, examination, investigations and management was collected, and
analysed.
Results: One hundred forty one adult patients with a mean age of 30 years were included in this study.
The underlying causes of gynaecomastia in this study were hypogonadism in 14.6%, medications in
14.6%, chronic liver disease in 4.9% and testicular tumours in 2.4%. The commonest medications related
to gynaecomastia were Cimetidine and Spirinolactone. Idiopathic gynaecomastia was diagnosed in 53.7%
and it is strongly related to obesity, as more than 53.7% of patients were having a body mass index (BMI)
above 25.
Surgery and liposuction were performed in 70.7% of cases and the rest of patients were either treated
medically or reassured.
Conclusion: Careful history taking, physical examination and subsequent selective investigations are
important in dealing with patients presenting with gynaecomastia. Causes are usually benign and surgery is
indicated in 70% of patients including excision and liposuction.