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Medical Policy

Policy Num:     07.001.107
Policy Name:   Surgical Treatment of Bilateral Gynecomastia
Policy ID:          [07.001.107]  [Ar / L+ / M+ / P+]  [7.01.13]

Last Review:      November 09, 2022
Next Review:     Policy Archived

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Related Policies: None

Surgical Treatment of Bilateral Gynecomastia

Summary

Description

Gynecomastia, a benign proliferation of the glandular tissue of the male breast, is caused by an increase in the ratio of estrogen to androgen activity. It is categorized as physiologic (occurring normally during infancy, puberty, and older age) or pathologic (due to drugs or disorders such as androgen deficiency, testicular tumors, hyperthyroidism, and chronic kidney disease). In adult men seeking consultation for gynecomastia, approximately 40 percent of cases of gynecomastia are due to persistent pubertal gynecomastia or medications and 25 percent are idiopathic Surgical removal of the breast tissue, using either surgical excision or liposuction, may be considered if conservative therapies are not effective or possible.

Summary of Evidence

For individuals with bilateral gynecomastia who receive surgical treatment, the evidence includes nonrandomized studies. Relevant outcomes are symptoms, functional outcomes, health status measures, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. Because there are no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on surgical treatment of bilateral gynecomastia, it is not possible to determine with a high level of confidence whether surgical treatment improves symptoms or functional impairment. Conservative therapy should adequately address any physical pain or discomfort, and gynecomastia does not typically cause functional impairment. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Additional Information

**Clinical input received as to Gynecomastia associated with mental health disorders and consideration for a surgical approach when fully documented by a mental health physician.**

Objective

The objective of this evidence review is to evaluate whether the surgical treatment of bilateral gynecomastia improves net health outcomes.

Policy Statements

Surgical removal of breast tissue, such as mastectomy or liposuction, as a treatment of gynecomastia, is considered investigational due to the lack of functional impairment. Exceptions can be made when medical appropriateness criteria are met. See policy guidelines.

Mastectomy for gynecomastia may be considered medically necessary if all of the medical appropriateness criteria are met. (See Medical Appropriateness below.)

Mastectomy for gynecomastia for the treatment of the following conditions, including but not limited to, breast enlargement from obesity, breast enlargement from drug treatment that can be discontinued, or removal of fatty tissue alone is considered cosmetic.

Policy Guidelines

MEDICAL APPROPRIATENESS

Mastectomy for gynecomastia is considered medically appropriate when ANY ONE of the following are met:

• • Adolescent males (14-17 years old) when ALL the following criteria are met:

  • • Functional Impairment (e.g., chronic skin irritation, pain, related psychological disorder requiring therapy)

    • The tissue to be removed is glandular, not fatty tissue, verified by required histologic preoperative biopsy

    • Documentation of unilateral or bilateral grade II or larger breast enlargement (e.g., exceeding areola boundaries with edges that are indistinct from the chest)

    • Gynecomastia persists longer than 2 years

    • For adolescents, surgery is generally not recommended until adult testicular size is attained, as there may be regrowth of the breast tissue if the surgery is performed before puberty is completed.

    • Referral/evaluation from mental health physician should be provided.

  • Adult males when ALL the following criteria are met:

  • • Functional Impairment (e.g., chronic skin irritation, pain, related psychological disorder requiring therapy)

    • The tissue to be removed is glandular, not fatty tissue, verified by required histologic preoperative biopsy

    • No evidence of breast cancer

    • Documentation of unilateral or bilateral grade III or larger breast enlargement (e.g., exceeding areola boundaries with edges that are indistinct from the chest with skin redundancy present)

    • Medical causes ruled out with normal results of ALL the following:

    • • Hormone evaluation (i.e., testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin)

      • Liver enzymes

      • Serum Creatinine

      • Thyroid Function Test

    • Gynecomastia persists longer than 4 months following unsuccessful medical treatment

    • Referral/evaluation from mental health physician should be provided

Coding

See the Codes table for details.

Benefit Application

BlueCard/National Account Issues

One of the bases for medical necessity is the presence of functional impairment. For the treatment of bilateral gynecomastia, the presence of functional impairment is a primary consideration. Typically, no functional impairment is associated with gynecomastia. Therefore, the determination of coverage eligibility for the surgical treatment of bilateral gynecomastia may require consideration of whether such surgery would be considered either essentially cosmetic in nature or reconstructive. Contractual definitions of the scope of reconstructive services that may be eligible for coverage vary. Categories of conditions, which may be included as part of the contractual definition of reconstructive services, include some or all of the following:

• Postsurgery

• Accidental trauma or injury

• Diseases

• Congenital anomalies

• Anatomic variants

• Postchemotherapy.

For example, adolescent gynecomastia may be considered an anatomic variant, while gynecomastia related to liver disease would be considered secondary to a disease process.

Determinations of whether a proposed therapy would be considered reconstructive or cosmetic should always be interpreted in the context of the specific benefits language. State or federal mandates may also dictate coverage decisions.

Background

Bilateral Gynecomastia

Bilateral gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the male breast, either due to increased adipose tissue, glandular tissue, fibrous tissue, or a combination of all 3. Bilateral gynecomastia may be associated with any of the following:

• An underlying hormonal disorder (ie, conditions causing either estrogen excess or testosterone deficiency such as liver disease or an endocrine disorder)

• An adverse effect of certain drugs

• Obesity

• Related to specific age groups, ie,

  • Neonatal gynecomastia, related to action of maternal or placental estrogens

  • Adolescent gynecomastia, which consists of transient, bilateral breast enlargement, which may be tender

  • Gynecomastia of aging, related to the decreasing levels of testosterone and relative estrogen excess.

Treatment

Treatment of gynecomastia involves consideration of the underlying cause. For example, treatment of the underlying hormonal disorder, cessation of drug therapy, or weight loss may all be effective therapies. Gynecomastia may also resolve spontaneously, and adolescent gynecomastia may resolve with aging.

Prolonged gynecomastia causes periductal fibrosis and stromal hyalinization, which prevents the regression of the breast tissue. Surgical removal of the breast tissue, using surgical excision or liposuction, may be considered if the conservative therapies above are not effective or possible and the gynecomastia does not resolve spontaneously or with aging.

Regulatory Status

Removal of the breast tissue is a surgical procedure and, as such, is not subject to regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Rationale

This evidence review was created in December 1995 and has been updated regularly with searches of the PubMed database. The most recent literature update was performed through December 20, 2022.

Evidence reviews assess the clinical evidence to determine whether the use of technology improves the net health outcome. Broadly defined, health outcomes are the length of life, quality of life, and ability to function¾including benefits and harms. Every clinical condition has specific outcomes that are important to patients and managing the course of that condition. Validated outcome measures are necessary to ascertain whether a condition improves or worsens; and whether the magnitude of that change is clinically significant. The net health outcome is a balance of benefits and harms.

To assess whether the evidence is sufficient to draw conclusions about the net health outcome of technology, 2 domains are examined: the relevance, and quality and credibility. To be relevant, studies must represent one or more intended clinical use of the technology in the intended population and compare an effective and appropriate alternative at a comparable intensity. For some conditions, the alternative will be supportive care or surveillance. The quality and credibility of the evidence depend on study design and conduct, minimizing bias and confounding that can generate incorrect findings. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is preferred to assess efficacy; however, in some circumstances, nonrandomized studies may be adequate. RCTs are rarely large enough or long enough to capture less common adverse events and long-term effects. Other types of studies can be used for these purposes and to assess generalizability to broader clinical populations and settings of clinical practice.

Population Reference No. 1 

Bilateral Gynecomastia

Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose

The purpose of surgical therapy for bilateral gynecomastia is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies, such as conservative treatment.

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations

The relevant population of interest is individuals with bilateral gynecomastia, a benign enlargement of the male breast due either to increased adipose, glandular, or fibrous tissue or a combination of the 3. An underlying hormonal disorder, obesity, and an adverse effect of certain drugs may be associated with the condition. Additionally, the bilateral gynecomastia may be related to specific age groups, including neonates, adolescents, and in aging men with decreasing levels of testosterone and relative estrogen excess.

Interventions

The therapy being considered is surgical treatment: removal of the breast tissue by surgical excision or liposuction.

Comparators

The main comparators of interest are conservative treatment, which varies based on the underlying cause of the condition and can include treatment of an underlying hormonal disorder, cessation of drug therapy, and weight loss.

Outcomes

The general outcomes of interest are symptoms, functional outcomes, health status measures, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. Symptoms of bilateral gynecomastia may include enlargement, tenderness, and lumps in the breast tissue.

Evaluation of the general outcomes of interest requires a long follow-up period beyond the immediate postoperative period if surgery is performed. In the existing literature evaluating surgery as a treatment for bilateral gynecomastia, follow-up is 5 years.

Study Selection Criteria

Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs;

• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.

• To assess longer-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.

• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Review of Evidence

Coverage eligibility for treatment of bilateral gynecomastia is largely a contract/benefits issue related to the distinction between cosmetic and reconstructive services. The surgical procedure may involve surgical excision (ie, mastectomy). More recently, liposuction has been used.^1,2, In some instances, adolescent gynecomastia may be reported as tender or painful, and the presence of these symptoms may be presented as a basis for surgical treatment. However, the pain associated with adolescent gynecomastia is typically self-limiting or responds to analgesic therapy.

No randomized clinical trials that were not included in the below systematic reviews were identified to assess various surgical interventions to treat male gynecomastia.

Systematic Reviews

Two systematic reviews on gynecomastia treatment that have been conducted are described in Tables 1 and 2. A systematic review by Fagerlund et al (2015) included 17 studies on pharmacologic and/or surgical treatment of gynecomastia.^3, The body of evidence was determined to be of very low quality by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria; the method of patient satisfaction rating also varied between studies which resulted in difficulties interpreting the results. None of the included studies were randomized, and all were judged to be at high-risk of bias.

A systematic review by Prasetyono et al (2022) included 18 studies (N=244) on liposuction-assisted gynecomastia surgery in patients with specified Simon’s classification of gynecomastia grade I and II.^4, The method of patient satisfaction rating also varied between studies which resulted in difficulties interpreting the results. Only 2 studies were considered good quality in terms of level of evidence, and the authors noted that there was a high risk of bias in all included studies which precludes them from drawing any non-biased conclusion.

Table 1. Systematic Review Characteristics

¹ Key eligibility criteria.
NR: not reported; RCT: randomized controlled trial

Table 2. Systematic Review Results

Nonrandomized Studies

Exposure of new techniques, quality of life assessments, and other nonsurgical outcomes have been reported in the literature; studies that were not included in the systematic reviews above are described below.

Nuzzi et al (2018) published a longitudinal cohort study aimed at measuring changes in health-related quality of life following surgical management of gynecomastia using 3 surveys administered over a 5-year period to both the intervention group and age- and sex-matched controls.^5, The surveys administered were the Short-Form 36 Health Survey Version2 (SF-36v2), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Eating-Attitudes Test-26. From 2008 to 2017, 44 patients who underwent treatment of gynecomastia and 64 unaffected controls participated in the study. Race or ethnicity of patients were not described. Patients in the intervention group scored significantly poorer at baseline compared with controls on both the RSES and Eating-Attitudes Test-26 (p<.05, both), even after controlling for body mass index differences. Gynecomastia patients scored lower on 5 SF-36v2 domains than the controls: general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health (p<.05, all). Scores significantly improved post-operatively on the RSES and in 4 SF-36v2 domains. Post-operatively, gynecomastia patients scored similarly to the control group on the SF-36v2 and RSES, indicating an improvement in quality of life.

Liu et al (2022) reported on a cohort of 34 patients (N=50 breasts; 16 bilateral and 18 unilateral) diagnosed with glandular gynecomastia who were treated with endoscope-assisted minimally invasive surgery.^6, According to Simon's classification of gynecomastia, grade I (n=10), grade IIA (n=25), and grade IIB (n=15) patients were included. Race or ethnicity of patients were not described. Median follow-up duration was 21 months (range, 12 to 34). Short-term complications included pain, postoperative bleeding, and subcutaneous seroma. Long-term complications included dysesthesia of the nipple-areolar complex and redundant skin. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed by 2 surgeons at 6 months post-procedure. Cosmetic outcomes based on predetermined criteria were as follows: very good (15/34; 44.1%), good (17/34; 50%), and average (2/34; 5.9%). Satisfaction of patients was scored using a 5-point Likert scale, and the average was 4.4 points (+/- standard deviation of 0.5).

Table 3. Summary of Nonrandomized Studies Characteristics

Table 4. Summary of Observational Comparative Study Results

 EAT-26: eating-attitudes test-26; NAC: nipple–areolar complex ; RSES: Rosenberg self-esteem scale; SF-36v2: short-form 36 health survey version 2; SD: standard deviation.

Section Summary: Bilateral Gynecomastia

To demonstrate improvement in health outcomes, controlled trials are needed that report clinically important outcomes such as improvement in functional status. No such trials were identified through a literature search. Two systematic reviews included studies on the surgical treatment of gynecomastia; however, the majority of evidence was determined to be of low quality with a high risk of bias.a.

For individuals with bilateral gynecomastia who receive surgical treatment, the evidence includes nonrandomized studies. Relevant outcomes are symptoms, functional outcomes, health status measures, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. Because there are no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on functional outcomes after surgical treatment of bilateral gynecomastia, it is not possible to determine with a high level of confidence whether surgical treatment improves symptoms or functional impairment. Conservative therapy should adequately address any physical pain or discomfort, and gynecomastia does not typically cause functional impairment. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Population Reference No. 2

Bilateral Gynecomastia Unresolved & Associated with Mental Health Disorder

Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the male breast, either due to increased adipose tissue, glandular tissue, fibrous tissue, or a combination of the three. Bilateral gynecomastia in adult males may be associated with an underlying hormonal disorder (i.e., conditions causing either estrogen excess or testosterone deficiency such as liver disease or endocrine disorder), an adverse effect of certain drugs, or obesity. Pubertal gynecomastia is a common condition with an overall incidence of 38 percent in males 10-16 years of age, increasing to 65 percent at age 14, and dropping to 14 percent in 16-year-old males. Pubertal gynecomastia often regresses spontaneously in six months and 90 percent resolve within three years. An increase in estradiol concentration, lagging free testosterone production, and increased tissue sensitivity to normal male levels of estrogen are possible causes of gynecomastia in adolescents.

While it is not necessary to carry out a thorough diagnostic investigation in every case of gynecomastia, the presence of an underlying tumor (breast or testicular) needs to be excluded.

Treatment of gynecomastia involves consideration of the underlying cause, e.g., treatment of an underlying hormonal disorder, cessation of drug therapy, or weight loss. The grade of breast enlargement is taken into consideration. Prolonged gynecomastia causes periductal fibrosis and stromal hyalinization. Surgical therapy can be considered in men whose gynecomastia does not regress spontaneously, is causing considerable discomfort or psychological distress, or is longstanding (greater than 12 months) and the fibrotic stage has been reached.

Supplemental Information

The purpose of the following information is to provide reference material. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or alignment with the evidence review conclusions.

Practice Guidelines and Position Statements

Guidelines or position statements will be considered for inclusion in ‘Supplemental Information' if they were issued by, or jointly by, a US professional society, an international society with US representation, or National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Priority will be given to guidelines that are informed by a systematic review, include strength of evidence ratings, and include a description of management of conflict of interest.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

In 2002, affirmed 2015, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) issued practice criteria for third-party payers.^6, The ASPS classified gynecomastia using the following scale, which was “adapted from the McKinney and Simon, Hoffman and Kohn scales”:

• “Grade I: Small breast enlargement with localized button of tissue that is concentrated around the areola.

• Grade II: Moderate breast enlargement exceeding areola boundaries with edges that are indistinct from the chest.

• Grade III: Moderate breast enlargement exceeding areola boundaries with edges that are distinct from the chest with skin redundancy present.

• Grade IV: Marked breast enlargement with skin redundancy and feminization of the breast.”

According to the ASPS, in adolescents, surgical treatment for “[u]nilateral or bilateral grade II or III gynecomastia” may be appropriate if the gynecomastia “persists for more than 1 year after pathological causation is ruled out” (or 6 months if grade IV) and continues “after 6 months of unsuccessful medical treatment for pathological gynecomastia.” In adults, surgical treatment for “[u]nilateral or bilateral grade III or IV gynecomastia” may be appropriate if the gynecomastia “persists for more than 3 or 4 months after pathological causes ruled out [and continues] after 3 or 4 months of unsuccessful medical treatment for pathological gynecomastia.” The ASPS also indicated that surgical treatment of gynecomastia may be appropriate when distention and tightness cause “pain and discomfort.”

American Society of Andrology

In 2019, the American Society of Andrology, in collaboration with the European Academy of Andrology, released clinical practice guidelines on gynecomastia evaluation and management.^7, Their recommendation related to surgical intervention is as follows:

• "We suggest surgical treatment only for patients with long-lasting GM [gynecomastia], which does not regress spontaneously or following medical therapy. The extent and type of surgery depend on the size of breast enlargement, and the amount of adipose tissue [weak recommendation, low quality of evidence]."

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

Not applicable.

Medicare National Coverage

There is no national coverage determination. In the absence of a national coverage determination, coverage decisions are left to the discretion of local Medicare carriers.

Ongoing and Unpublished Clinical Trials

A search of ClinicalTrials.gov in December 2022 did not identify any ongoing or unpublished trials that would likely influence this review.

References

1. Rohrich RJ, Ha RY, Kenkel JM, et al. Classification and management of gynecomastia: defining the role of ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Plast Reconstr Surg. Feb 2003; 111(2): 909-23; discussion 924-5. PMID 12560721
2. Góes JC, Landecker A. Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) in breast surgery. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2002; 26(1): 1-9. PMID 11891589
3. Fagerlund A, Lewin R, Rufolo G, et al. Gynecomastia: A systematic review. J Plast Surg Hand Surg. 2015; 49(6): 311-8. PMID 26051284
4. Prasetyono TOH, Budhipramono AG, Andromeda I. Liposuction Assisted Gynecomastia Surgery With Minimal Periareolar Incision: a Systematic Review. Aesthetic Plast Surg. Feb 2022; 46(1): 123-131. PMID 34379157
5. Nuzzi LC, Firriolo JM, Pike CM, et al. The Effect of Surgical Treatment for Gynecomastia on Quality of Life in Adolescents. J Adolesc Health. Dec 2018; 63(6): 759-765. PMID 30279103
6. Liu C, Tong Y, Sun F, et al. Endoscope-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery for the Treatment of Glandular Gynecomastia. Aesthetic Plast Surg. Dec 2022; 46(6): 2655-2664. PMID 35237883
7. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. ASPS Recommended Insurance Coverage Criteria for Third-Party Payers: Gynecomastia. 2002 (affirmed 2015); https://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/Health- Policy/Positions/Gynecomastia_ICC.pdf. Accessed December 20, 2022.
8. Kanakis GA, Nordkap L, Bang AK, et al. EAA clinical practice guidelines-gynecomastia evaluation and management. Andrology. Nov 2019; 7(6): 778-793. PMID 31099174

Codes

Policy History