Pathomorphological and Molecular Biological Characteristics of Gynecomastia

Abstract

Based on a complex morphological study, including light, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry, pathomorphological and molecular biological characteristics of gynecomastia (GM) are presented in the article. It’s shown that GM is a benign lesion of the breast, observed in men of adolescence, post-pubertal period and andropause. In proliferative form of the disease (without atypia) the amount of estrogen receptors is higher than in proliferative form and in atypical hyperplasia of epithelium. Proliferation of ER+ cells and an increase in the proportion of cells expressing both ER and Ki67 proliferation factor are especially pronounced in proliferative forms of GM. The ultrastructural features of ductal cells in men are in most cases very similar to the signs of benign hyperplastic conditions in the female breast. Stroma in this case is the main component of GM, its ultrastructural features reflect the morphological manifestations of estrogenic stimulation.