Galactocele in a male infant with congenital hypopituitarism

Unilateral Galactocele in a 2-Year-Old Boy: the Role of GATA-3

Galactoceles are benign lesions formed at the expense of breast glandular tissue. Its occurrence in boys is exceptional, with isolated reports in the scientific literature. We present the case of a 2-year-old boy who debuted with a unilateral breast enlargement of 18 months of evolution, with no other associated symptoms. Initial hormonal study showed no alterations. Ultrasonography showed the presence of a homogeneous 5-cm retroareolar cyst. Surgical excision was indicated. During the procedure, abundant milk drained from the lesion. The histopathological study, supported by GATA-3 immunohistochemical staining, confirmed the diagnosis of galactocele. The range of possible differential diagnoses for unilateral or bilateral breast enlargement in boys is wide and includes neoplastic, vascular, and hormonal etiologies. Galactocele, which is an exceptional entity in this group, should be considered. Immunohistochemical techniques such as GATA-3, characteristic of the breast epithelium, can contribute to the diagnosis.

Does Male Infantile Galactocele Always Necessitate Surgical Intervention?

Galactocele is cystic dilatation of the mammary gland, which contains milk. Galactocele is usually presented as a painless breast enlargement with a fluctuant, soft, mobile, and non-tender mass in the breast. It is a rare disorder in the male pediatric age group, with only 31 cases reported in the literature. In this article, we present another case of unilateral galactocele in a 14-month-old male infant. Ultrasound imaging confirmed a simple cystic hypoechoic mass in the right breast, and needle aspiration was performed before surgery as a diagnostic procedure (a 1-cc extract revealed a milky-colored fluid).

[A rare case of giant galactocele associated with prolactinoma]

Le galactocèle est une forme kystique rare, c'est une lésion bénigne du sein, apparaissant quand un canal mammaire est obstrué et très rempli de lait. On le rencontre généralement chez les femmes en post-partum, soit allaitant ou non. Il n'y a que quelques cas signalés qui ne sont pas liées à la lactation, comme on le voit chez les femmes ménopausées ou chez les hommes; tant plus, que la relation à la surproduction de prolactine, un facteur de croissance de l'épithélium mammaire n'est pas très bien défini à ce moment. Nous présentons un tel cas inhabituel d'une patiente âgée de 30 ans qui n'a pas d'antécédents d'accouchement ou l'avortement. Elle est suivie en endocrinologie pour micro adénome hypophysaire mise sous Cabergoline* qu'elle a arrêté d'elle-même pendant un an. Même compte tenu de la rareté de l'association, il est important de souligner le rôle hormonal dans l'évolution de l'anatomie du sein.

Bilateral galactocele in a male infant with Down syndrome and congenital hypothyroidism

Galactocele is an uncommon benign breast lesion. Its cause is unknown. Here, we report a male infant with Down syndrome and congenital hypothyroidism during the newborn period. At follow up, when he was 6 months old, bilateral mammillary swelling was detected and diagnosed as galactocele. Although thyroid hormone levels were normal, serum prolactin levels were elevated. Cyst aspiration was performed on the left side and 6 months after the aspiration of the cyst on the left side, both cysts had clinically and sonographically regressed. No recurrence was observed at the end of the 4th year.

The galactocele of male infants: an intriguing entity. Study and reflection about a case, with review of the literature

In this report, the authors investigate and discuss a galactocele that developed in the breast of a 5-month-old male. Based on the histological and immunohistochemical findings, they suggest that the rare and intriguing process that is exclusively observed in males in the absence of any detectable hormonal stimulation at time of investigation could represent a developmental anomaly possibly promoted by an obstructive phenomenon involving a defect of hollowing of some primary epidermal buds, the precursors of the mammary ducts.

Persistent hyperprolactinemia and bilateral galactocele in a male infant

Galactocele is a benign breast lesion, usually occurring in nursing women. This lesion is a rare cause of breast enlargement in children. In this paper we describe the case of an infant with hyperprolactinemia (which persisted throughout 15 years of clinical observation) and bilateral galactocele. We speculate that a congenital midline defect in our patient might have impaired the normal dopaminergic inhibitory tone on pituitary lactotroph cells, thus leading to an increased prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland; this, in turn, might have favored the development of the galactocele.

Galactocele: an unusual cause of breast enlargement in children

Galactoceles in children, either cystic or pseudotumors, are described in the literature as a rare cause of increasing breast size and can appear in males. We report a case of galactocele in a 15-month-old male, treated at our institution. The patient presented with a tumor in the right breast that had appeared 6 months earlier with no pain, signs of inflammation, or nipple secretion. Twelve cases found in the literature emphasize the importance of including galactocele in the differential diagnosis of benign breast masses in infancy.

Galactocele and prolactinoma--a pathogenic association?

A galactocele is a rare form of cystic, benign lesion of the breast, appearing when a mammary duct becomes obstructed and over filled with milk. It is usually found in postpartum women, either lactating or not. There are only a few cases reported that are not immediately linked to the lactation, as seen in postmenopausal women or in men. Furthermore, the relationship to overproduction of prolactine, a growth factor for the breast epithelium is not very well defined at this moment. We present such an unusual case of a 37-year-old female patient who has no history of birth or abortion. She was diagnosed with both microprolactinoma and galactocele whose dimensions seemed to be related to the evolution of the pituitary tumor and serum prolactine. Because no other etiology could be found in the young patient for the mammary galactocele, the prolactine excess is the most probable cause. Even considering the rarity of the association it is important to point the hormonal role in changing the anatomy of the breast.