Mammary glands in boys: structure and diseases

The milk (or as it is also called the mammary) gland (from Latin glandula mammaria) refers to paired epidermal glands that produce a specific secretion - colostrum and milk. When we hear this combination, most people invariably imagine a busty beauty, or, in any case, a representative of the weaker half of the population. But this organ, as such, is not a tribute to belonging to a certain sex. Boys and adult men have mammary glands.

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Anatomy and structure of the mammary glands in boys

But in this article we will talk about future real men. We will try to understand what is the anatomy and structure of the mammary glands in boys? What is the difference between them?

As studies show, there are no differences in the structure of the mammary gland in girls and boys until puberty. Differences in structure and progression begin to be observed from this moment, and the difference is directly related to the degree of development of the gland itself. In adult representatives of the stronger sex, the mammary gland is present, but it remains in an embryonic state. In women, it develops and is intended for feeding a newborn baby.

The absence of breasts in a woman or, conversely, a developed mammary gland in an adult man is an anomaly that requires, in many cases, correction, since it is associated with pathological changes affecting the endocrine system.

This gland is located on the front side of the torso between the third and seventh ribs. The gland itself is surrounded by fatty tissue. It is their quantity and location that determine the shape and size of the female breast. Boys and men also have such a layer, but it is quite insignificant. Obesity can be an exception. As sad as it sounds, this phenomenon in relation to children is not uncommon today. On a hot sunny day on the streets of modern cities, you can meet a child whose breasts are clearly visible. This process has its own medical term - false gynecomastia.

The anatomy and structure of the mammary glands in boys, as well as in girls, is as follows. In the center of the chest there is a brown pigmented circle, called the areola. Its shade can vary: from dark brown to light pink. The size of this spot is individual and depends on the age of the person and his individual characteristics. On the surface of this circle, you can distinguish rudimentary processes - these are underdeveloped sebaceous and sweat glands, the so-called Montgomery glands, of which there are about fifteen. They are involved in the lactation process in women who have given birth, in boys they remain underdeveloped.

In the center of the areola is the nipple, which can have a relatively different outline: conical, barrel-shaped, cylindrical, funnel-shaped and without a specific shape. In this case, the state of the nipple can be protruding, retracted and almost flat.

The skin of the nipple and the pigmented circle around it can be quite smooth or furrowed. Along the perimeter of the nipple, from the peak to the base, there are noticeable circulatory bundles of smooth muscle fibers.

Until puberty, both girls and boys have the same potential for developing the mammary gland into a functionally active gland. At this time, the glandular tissues that make up the gland continue to develop slowly. This occurs due to the formation of new cells and intracellular structures that form duct channels.

The gland we are considering does not have muscle fibers in its composition, so it cannot support its weight. In the same way, the breast cannot be "pumped up". The supporting apparatus for the breast is the fascia.

The back wall of the mammary gland is fixed to the collarbone by Cooper's ligaments - connective tissues that strengthen it and connect it to the fascia. The back surface "looks" at the pectoralis major muscle. It is between these walls that a small layer of fatty tissue is located. In this case, its presence allows the breast to provide the necessary mobility.

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Diseases of the mammary glands in boys

Sadly, many diseases have become "younger". It is not uncommon for boys to have breast diseases. The following were diagnosed in patients of this group:

• Gynecomastia is an increase in the size of the mammary glands, developing on the basis of hyperplasia of the glandular ducts and connective tissue. This disease can have both a physiological and pathological nature. The disease can be localized in one mammary gland, which leads to breast asymmetry, or it can be symmetrical and affect both glands. It can be caused by:
  • Injury.
  • A failure in the synthesis of male sex hormones.
  • The result of exposure to a number of drugs.
  • Result of hereditary pathology.
  • Diseases affecting the thyroid gland.
• Pseudogynecomastia is an aesthetic and physiological deviation that is more associated not with pathology as such, but with the accumulation of fatty tissue in the chest area and stretching of muscle and glandular tissue. This usually happens when a child is overweight. And as statistics show, the number of children suffering from obesity has been growing lately.
• Physiological gynecomastia is a reversible pathological deviation observed in completely healthy children. It can occur during two periods of time: at the moment of birth and the first few weeks after childbirth, as well as during puberty. This fact is explained quite simply. It is associated with a sharp change in the level of hormones in the baby's blood. In the first case, maternal hormones stop passing through the placental barrier. In the second, the child's body undergoes significant changes due to the transition to a new status. Statistics show that every five to seven boys out of ten (in the period from 12 to 15 years) face this metamorphosis. And 90% of them are stopped on their own after a year or two.
• Fibrocystic disease or mastopathy. Growth of connective tissue in the gland area. The number of glandular cells also increases. This is what causes the formation of seals. This pathology is not considered precancerous, but nevertheless, some of its forms can degenerate into malignant neoplasms.
• Cancer is a terrible disease that is diagnosed in children quite rarely, but such cases have been registered, so it is worth remembering. If the pathology is recognized late, cancer cells spread throughout the body through the blood and/or lymphatic system, catalyzing numerous tumor formations. If the disease is recognized late, when it is already at the last stage, it cannot be treated; with timely and early detection and treatment, a complete recovery is possible.

In any case, if parents notice swelling in the nipple area, they should show the child to a pediatrician and, if necessary, undergo an examination to determine the cause of the pathology.

Breast compaction in boys

It is not uncommon for boys to experience a lump in the mammary glands around the nipple during puberty. If this is not due to pathology, then this is the result of hormonal changes and, mainly after its normalization, the problem is solved on its own, and the lump dissolves without leaving a trace.

This clinical picture can occur in boys aged 12 to 14 years. The teenager may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations: swelling of the nipples, slight burning, increased sensitivity, itching, the appearance of pigmentation and a pulling sensation in the chest area. Even the appearance of discharge is possible. The picture in question refers to deviations that fit the term physiological gynecomastia.

Approximately two thirds of teenagers, in one way or another, experience these symptoms; the only difference may be the intensity of their manifestation.

If the symptoms in question do not disappear after the end of adolescence (up to 18 years of age), it is necessary to seek advice from a qualified specialist.

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Swelling of the mammary glands in boys

Many do not even think that such a problem can affect the strong half of the population, including boys and male adolescents. Swelling of the mammary glands in boys can affect two main stages in the life of a child - birth and puberty.

After birth, the newborn's body stops receiving maternal hormones, which had previously invaded through the placental barrier. It is the fact of a sharp change in the amount of hormones that can provoke the appearance of these symptoms. If such a deviation is detected in the baby, there is no need to worry. This is a normal variant that will "resolve" on its own over the next month.

At an older age, a child may experience a similar manifestation in the period (on average) from 12 to 14 years. This is due to the child's maturation and the transition of his status from a teenager to an adult man. At this time, the teenager's body produces both male and female hormones. If there is a surge in the receipt of estrogen, then the consequence of its increased production is swelling of the mammary glands. In most cases, the volume increase affects the areola area, but there are cases when breast growth was also observed. After the balance of male and female hormones is balanced, the swelling of the breasts passes.

These two circumstances are physiologically normal and are quite explainable.

But this aesthetic deviation can be caused by other problems. One of these reasons can be excess weight, and what was taken for swelling of the mammary gland is the deposition of fatty structures in the chest area.

This problem can also be provoked by a number of diseases associated with a failure in the child's endocrine system. As a result of the pathological deviation, there is increased division of glandular cells and, accordingly, tissue growth - gynecomastia.

Swelling of the mammary glands can be temporarily provoked by a course of taking certain medications. In this case, it is enough to cancel the drug or finish the course of treatment, and the situation will normalize with the problem discussed in this article.

If the source of the symptoms in question is a certain pathology, then only stopping the disease or introducing supportive hormonal therapy can return the boy's breasts to their original natural size. In a situation where even adequate therapeutic measures for a given clinic do not bring the expected result, there is only one way out - surgical intervention, which doctors try to resort to as rarely as possible. Specialists initially try to try all non-radical methods of influence. And only after none of the methods have received their positive continuation, the doctor decides to perform an operation.

Enlargement of the mammary glands in boys

Anatomically, the mammary glands of the representatives of the strong half of humanity are no different from those of women. Except perhaps in the level of development. If we talk about childhood, then it is practically impossible to distinguish a girl's breast from a boy's breast up to a certain point. But this applies to a healthy child. In the case of pathological changes or in certain periods of life, an increase in the mammary glands in boys can be observed.

If the child’s hormonal background does not “jump”, then there are no problems with the mammary gland; it does not develop, remaining in an embryonic state.

But there are still two options when the enlargement of the mammary glands in boys is physiologically justified. This is the moment of birth and the following few weeks (this can be either two or four). During this period, many newborns have a mammary gland that is somewhat larger than usual.

As mentioned above, such a situation can repeat itself during the period when a boy begins to turn into a man, that is, during puberty, which mainly affects the age from 12 to 15 years. It is during this period that the greatest discrepancy in the production of various hormones occurs. And if female hormones "take over", then, just so happens, we have to observe the development of breasts according to the female type. But if this situation is not associated with any pathology, then after the restructuring of the teenager's body is complete, the size of the mammary gland returns to normal.

One possible development of such a picture in a healthy body is wearing uncomfortable, low-quality underwear that irritates, chafes, or causes an allergic reaction (mainly underwear made of synthetic material).

Another reason that has nothing to do with the disease, but still has a significant impact on the child's body, is the lifestyle of his parents and, accordingly, his:

• Hypodynamia. Despite their natural mobility, some children do not want to run and jump, preferring to sit at the computer or lie in front of the TV.
• Added to this is an unhealthy diet rich in carbohydrates, fatty and high-calorie foods.
• Decreased rate of fluid elimination from the body.
• The result of such a life is that the baby is overweight and sometimes even obese.

But an abnormal enlargement of the organ in question is also possible. Many diseases can lead to such a picture. These symptoms can be provoked by:

• Metabolic disorder, metabolic failure.
• Severe pathology of the kidneys and liver.
• Rehabilitation of exhaustion.
• Inflammation of the testicles.
• A tumor localized in the chest area, either cancerous or benign.
• A neoplasm affecting the testicle.
• Other diseases in which androgen production decreases.

Therefore, if parents have even the slightest suspicion of a pathological source of the problem, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Breast pain in a boy

If the child complains not just of discomfort, but of the appearance of painful sensations, then there is no need to delay. It is advisable to show the baby to a specialist as soon as possible. After all, pain in the mammary gland in a boy is most likely caused by some disease or pathological external influence.

The cause of pain in the mammary gland area can be provoked by hormonal disorders, which can only be identified by a doctor - an endocrinologist. But this is not the only reason that can cause soreness of the nipples and breasts in a child.

The catalyst for pain can be:

• Puberty. At this time, the nipple area may be painful to the touch. But such symptoms are temporary and after the hormonal background is normalized, the size of the mammary gland will return to normal, and the pain will disappear.
• Allergy can also lead to the pathology in question. Pain is one of the manifestations of the body's response to internal or external influences.
• The pain may be caused by an injury to the chest area.
• Diseases affecting the pituitary gland.
• A pathology affecting the functioning of the adrenal glands.
• Malfunction of the testicles. The pituitary gland, adrenal glands and testicles are a triumvirate responsible for the production of male hormones in the body of the strong half of the planet. Malfunction of at least one organ leads to the dominance of female hormones in the boy's body, which leads to the result in question.
• Gynecomastia.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• A fairly rare, but most dangerous disease is breast cancer.

Inflammation of the mammary glands in boys

Mastitis is an inflammatory process occurring in the tissues of the mammary gland. It affects not only the female body. Inflammation of the mammary glands in boys and even newborns is not nonsense, but a modern reality. This disease occurs in the child's body according to the same pattern as in the weaker half of humanity.

In a newborn child, this disease may appear as a result of infection of the body. After all, in the womb, the fetus received part of the mother's hormones along with the blood. After birth, their quantitative level dropped sharply. Such a discrepancy leads to a decrease in the baby's vitality and if it is not protected during this period, it is quite possible for pathogenic flora or a virus to enter the body. In particular, the mammary gland may be infected, and the inflammation may result in mastitis.

Mainly, based on the mechanism of damage, this disease is most dangerous in the first month of a child’s life.

Most often, the following microorganisms become the causative agents of this disease in a small patient:

• Escherichia coli.
• Staphylococci.
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Streptococci.

The main source of the disease in boys is:

• A significant decline in the child's immune system.
• Injury.
• Another violation of the integrity of the skin.
• Hypothermia.
• An imbalance in the quantitative ratio of male and female hormones caused by pathology.

Diagnostics

Preventing the disease or detecting it at an early stage allows you to protect the human body from many health problems in the future. Diagnosis of the pathological deviation discussed in this article usually begins at home, when parents notice swelling in the nipple area of the child. In this case, it would be a good idea to show the boy to a pediatrician.

The second option may be a routine examination by a pediatrician or a visit by parents with another problem, when the doctor notices a discrepancy between the size of the glands and the age and gender of the child.

A special place is occupied by differential diagnostics aimed at identifying more severe pathologies, such as mastopathy, especially purulent inflammation of the mammary glands, tumor-like neoplasms (both benign and malignant). If alarming symptoms appear, it is necessary to urgently conduct a comprehensive medical examination and take adequate measures to stop the problem. And the sooner this is done, the less the body of the little patient will suffer. After all, in a child's body the disease can progress much faster.

The first thing a pediatrician prescribes after an initial examination is a blood and urine test, which will provide an answer to the presence or absence of an inflammatory process in the child’s body, and the level of hormones in the body can also be assessed.

The little patient is required to undergo an ultrasound examination of the chest area. Such an examination will help to identify the pathology of the changes, the extent of inflammation and affected tissues, and the stage of the disease. Having analyzed the results of the examinations, the attending physician is able to diagnose the disease. If he still has doubts, a consultation with other specialists or a council of doctors is possible.

Only after making the correct diagnosis can doctors begin to draw up a treatment protocol and the treatment itself.

If you follow the necessary hygiene rules, you can avoid infection.

If the pediatrician suspects the presence of an abscess or malignant neoplasm in the mammary gland, then the baby will additionally undergo a biopsy with subsequent histological examination, as well as magnetic resonance imaging and/or mammography.

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Treatment of breast diseases in boys

Most of the above cases of deviation from the norm in the state of the mammary gland in boys do not require any medical intervention. But even in this situation, control over the gland should not be removed. But there are pathologies that require immediate therapeutic intervention. Treatment is carried out on the basis of test data and instrumental diagnostics.

If mastopathy is diagnosed, anti-inflammatory drugs are included in the treatment protocol, antibiotics may be prescribed. These may be drugs belonging to the amoxicillin group (osmapox, gryunamox, amotide, hikoncil, amoxicillin-ratiopharm, flemoxin-solutab ranoxil), phenoxymethylpenicillins (ospen), penicillins moxiclav, amoxiclav, augmetin) or cephalosporins (prozolin, axetin, kefzol, tseklor, lizolin, zinnat, vercef, ospexin, ketocef, taracef).

At the same time, the child undergoes a massage, which is performed either by a professional massage therapist or by the mother at home (after appropriate training).

In case of gynecomastia, the stages of therapy depend on the source of the pathology. If it is physiological gynecomastia, there is no treatment. If such a picture was caused by the child's excessive weight, then the first thing to do is to review the patient's diet and diet, in this case, maintenance therapy is also possible.

The cause of the disease is in the synthesis of male sex hormones or a disease affecting the thyroid gland is diagnosed, the doctor prescribes hormonal drugs corresponding to a particular clinical picture.

If the result of gynecomastia is a hereditary pathology, then the boy begins to receive replacement therapy, that is, the hormone whose production is insufficient. In this case, this refers to the male sex hormone.

In rare cases, doctors may decide to perform surgical intervention. This method is mainly used when a small patient is diagnosed with a progressive purulent process and the formation of inflamed abscesses. In this case, the purulent formation is opened, the cavity is sanitized, and drainage is installed if necessary. After this, rehabilitation therapy is carried out using broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicines that work to increase the immune forces of the child's body are also mandatory.

The situation is worse when there is a suspicion of a cancerous nature of the pathology. After additional examination, the little patient receives treatment corresponding to the stage of malignant pathology.

It is worth noting that self-treatment can lead to irreparable consequences. After all, what is applicable to one diagnosis may be categorically unacceptable to another.

For example, in the case of an inflammatory process occurring in the tissues of the mammary gland, warming up is strictly prohibited. If the patient is an infant, then all procedures associated with hard massage are also contraindicated. After all, the skin of a baby at this age is very delicate and can be damaged even with minor impact.

Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to use folk medicine methods without the consent of the attending pediatrician. Only in the "parents - pediatrician" relationship can you get the expected result, that is, a complete recovery.

Prevention

Not the least important factor in preventing the occurrence and subsequent development of pathological changes associated with the mammary gland in a boy's body is proper body hygiene and following a number of recommendations put forward by pediatricians. Prevention of these manifestations is:

• Body hygiene, including breasts. This fact concerns not only women and girls, but also boys and adult men:
  • Daily shower.
  • Clean linen, preferably made from natural materials.
  • High-quality cosmetics: baby soap, shower gels and other cosmetics should be marked “for children”.
  • Hardening: contrast shower, air baths.
• Proper balanced nutrition. Fractional meal regime.
• Healthy lifestyle. It is no secret that many teenagers, in order to seem older, start smoking, trying alcohol and drugs early.
• Timely and adequate treatment of infectious diseases.
• The child's clothing should be the right size. Parents are obliged to ensure that their son is dressed according to the weather. Freezing, as well as excessive wrapping, have an adverse effect on the child's body, reducing its defenses.
• It is necessary to maintain the baby's immunity at a high level.
• The child should spend enough time outdoors playing active games.
• Regular ventilation and wet cleaning of the premises where children live.
• It is necessary to avoid mechanical injuries to the chest. Timely treat bruises and abrasions. If necessary, seek help from a specialist.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
• At the slightest suspicion of pathological changes, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician as soon as possible.
• No self-medication.

Only by following these fairly simple rules can we hope that the child’s body will not be exposed to negative influences, and the pathological process will not develop destructively.

Forecast

The answer to this question is ambiguous. After all, everything depends on the cause of the changes affecting the mammary glands in boys. If we talk about the natural periods of restructuring of the child's body (the period of birth and puberty), then the prognosis is definitely favorable, and there is no need for any treatment.

With timely access to a qualified medical worker in case of diagnosis of mastopathy, with adequate therapy, a complete cure can be guaranteed. The main thing is not to miss the disease at its early stage, since over time the acute form gradually turns into a chronic state of the disease. Chronic mastitis cannot always be completely stopped. In this case, the probability of relapses is high.

If a pediatrician diagnoses gynecomastia, then with the correction of nutrition, lifestyle and effective medical therapy, the child gets rid of the disease quite quickly. The only exception may be hereditary pathology. But here too there is a way out and it is replacement therapy.

Treatment of abscesses is mainly carried out by means of surgical intervention. After such a procedure, a scar remains, which reduces the aesthetic side of a person's appearance, from the physiological point of view - coarsening and contraction of tissues.

As a rule, many people associate mammary glands with the breasts of an adult woman. But as medical statistics show, natural and pathological changes can also affect the mammary glands of boys. At the same time, the severity of the problem does not become less. Therefore, if parents have questions or they have discovered swelling of the mammary glands in their son, the right decision would be to show the child to a specialist, mainly a local pediatrician. He will assess the situation, explain the change, if necessary, prescribe the necessary examination, consultation with other specialists and treatment. A categorical recommendation to all parents - do not engage in self-diagnosis and treatment! Such an approach can only harm your baby! After all, in some cases no treatment is required, it is enough to wait a certain period and the problem will resolve itself. When an illness occurs, adults, in most cases, cause even greater harm to the child's body by their attempts to cure it. Therefore, be attentive to your baby and careful in your actions. After all, the main postulate of medicine is DO NO HARM!

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