neonatal gynaecomastia
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Neonatal gynaecomastia
- Overall, 65-90% of neonates have breast tissue (1)
- results from the transfer of maternal and placental oestrogen and progesterone
- persists up to several months
Notes:
- neonatal breast enlargement is a normal response to falling levels of maternal
estrogen at the end of pregnancy
- these trigger the release of prolactin from the newborn's pituitary
- neonatal breast enlargement is common is independent of the sex of the baby
- generally bilateral - although may not be symmetrical; if unilateral then consider breast abscess; also infective mastitis can occur in a neonate and consider this especially if neonate is unwell and breast enlargement has features of infection (e.g. heat, erythema)
- usually occurs in the first week of life and generally resolves within a few weeks (2) - but may persist for several months (1)
- enlarged breast may discharge liquid; this usually resolves without treatment
over a period of a few weeks
- squeezing the breast to facilitate the discharge may lead to irritation, further enlargement, the persistence of the hypertrophied tissue, or, in rare cases, infection (mastitis or abscess)
Reference:
- Niewoehner CB, Schorer AE. Gynaecomastia and breast cancer in men. BMJ. 2008 Mar 29;336(7646):709-13.
- Amer A, Fischer H. Images in clinical medicine. Neonatal breast enlargement. . N Engl J Med. 2009 Apr 2;360(14):1445
Last reviewed 01/2018
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