Unilateral Gynaecomastia in a Young Man with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Male reproductive issues are frequently overlooked in patients of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on imatinib therapy. Current article describes a young man with CML on imatinib mesylate since 13 years who presented to us with painful left sided breast swelling. Mammography and fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed the diagnosis of gynaecomastia and hormone profile revealed low testosterone levels. Gynaecomastia was attributed to imatinib related hypogonadism. Gynaecomastia improved after hormone replacement therapy. Need for long term monitoring of reproductive hormones in patients of CML on imatinib therapy is emphasized in this report.

Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia; Fine needle aspiration; Hypogonadism; Imatinib.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

Nil.

Informed Consent

Obtained from the patient prior to publication of any material.

Ethical Clearance

The article follows the ethical guidelines as laid under Helsinki’s declaration 1976.

Figures

Fig. 1

Clinical photograph of the patient depicting unilateral (left) breast enlargement. There is no nipple discharge, ulceration or retraction

Fig. 2

a Mammography showing a central dense tissue in retroareolar location radiating into the surrounding fibrofatty tissue without any evidence of calcification or architectural distortion (BIRADS 2). b Fine needle aspiration from the lump showing sheets of benign ductal cells with intermixed myoepithelial cells