Gynecomastia: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height [obesity (overweight)]; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin and mucous membranes
    • Inspection and palpation (palpation) of the mammae (mammary glands) [exclusion of lipomastia (form of pseudogynecomastia occurring in obese men; enlargement of the breast due to increased adipose tissue); mammary gland tissue > 4 cm in diameter, unilateral/bilateral; tenderness to touch; very rare: Galactorrhea/diseased breast milk discharge [due todifferential diagnosis hyperprolactinemia/elevation of blood prolactin level]; assessment of pubertal development according to Tanner (see below)].
    • Inspection and palpation of the abdomen (belly), inguinal region (groin region), etc. (pressure pain?, knock pain?, release pain?, cough pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knock pain?)
    • Inspection and palpation of the genitals (penis and scrotum; assessment of pubes hair (pubic hair), penis (penis length: in flaccid state between 7-10 cm; presence of: Indurations (tissue hardening), anomalies, phimosis / foreskin constriction?) and testicular position and size (if necessary, by orchimeter); assessment of pubertal development according to Tanner (see below) Note: According to EEA guideline, a palpable (palpable) testicular tumor should be excluded or detected in the presence of testicular atrophy (“shrunken testis”).
  • Cancer screening
  • Health check

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.

Pubertal development according to Tanner

Feature Designation Brief description
Pubes hair P1 No difference with the environment
P2 Sparse little pigmented smooth hairs at the base of the penis
P3 Hair darker, curled, visible from a distance
P4 Same as adult, but smaller extension
P5 Adult, horizontal boundary at top, transition to inner thigh
P6 Adult, spreading along linea alba (vertical suture of connective tissue in the middle of the abdomen formed by the union of the tendon plates of the lateral abdominal muscles)
Chest B1 No glandular body palpable, contour of nipple (breast) visible
B2 Glandular body ≤ areola palpable, slight elevation visible
B3 Glandular body > areola, flowing contour between areola and thoracic body.
B4 Adult, contour of areola lifted
B5 Adult, rounded contour
Genital G1 Prepubertal, testicular volume ≤ 3 ml.
G2 Testes (testis) slightly enlarged, scrotal skin wrinkled
G3 Testes and penis larger
G4 Penis larger, contour of glans penis (glans) visible
G5 Testes and penis adult