Diagnosis

A diagnosis of gynecomastia is based on a review of your symptoms and a medical exam that includes a careful evaluation of your breast tissue, abdomen and genitals.

Tests

Your doctor will likely order tests to identify a possible cause of gynecomastia, to screen for possible breast cancer and to rule out other conditions. These may include:

• Blood tests
• Mammograms
• Computerized tomography (CT) scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• Testicular ultrasounds
• Tissue biopsies

Conditions that cause similar symptoms

Your doctor will want to be sure that your breast swelling is gynecomastia and not another condition. Other conditions that can cause similar symptoms include:

• Fatty breast tissue (pseudogynecomastia). Some men and boys, especially those with obesity, have breast fat that resembles gynecomastia. This isn't the same as gynecomastia and doesn't need additional evaluation.
• Breast cancer. Breast cancer is uncommon in men but can occur. Enlargement of one breast or the presence of a firm nodule raises the concern for male breast cancer.
• A breast abscess. This is an infection of the breast tissue.