Pseudogynecomastia

Explanatory picture

Pseudogynecomastia is the development of breast-shaped accumulations of fat in men without true glandular breast tissue.

It is commonly present in obese men, and is particularly apparent in men who have undergone extensive weight loss. A related/synonymous term is adipomastia.

The condition is different from and should be distinguished from gynecomastia ('female breasts'), which involves the actual development of the mammary gland in a male. The two conditions can usually be easily distinguished by palpation to check for the presence of glandular tissue. Another difference between the conditions is that breast pain or tenderness does not occur in pseudogynecomastia.

Sometimes gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia are present together; this is related to the fact that fat tissue expresses aromatase, the enzyme responsible for estrogen synthesis, and estrogen is produced disproportionately in men with excessive amounts of fat, resulting in a simultaneous increase in the gland.