GYNECOMASTIA AND HYPERTHYROIDISM

In a recent communication to this Journal, Bauer and Goodwin (1) reported 3 cases of gynecomastia appearing in patients treated with radioactive iodine for Graves’ disease. This symptom was considered as a complication of such therapy. We wish to call attention to tender breast enlargement as one manifestation of the symptomatology of Graves’ disease itself and to present 4 such cases in males observed in the past one and a half years among a total of 45 cases of hyperthyroidism examined during this period. In 2 of the cases, the appearance of breast symptoms antedated therapy of any kind. In 1 case, gynecomastia was first noted shortly after institution of therapy with Tapazole (1 methyl 2 mercaptoimidazole) but before significant clinical response was evident. In the fourth case, tender breast swelling was first noted later in the course of therapy, at a time when the patient had improved considerably. In all cases, remission of breast symptoms coincided with the return of function to the euthyroid state.