| Breast hypertrophy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specialty | Gynecology, endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Excessively large breast tissue |
| Risk factors | Increased levels or heightened sensitivity to certain hormones and/or growth factors |
Breast hypertrophy is a rare medical condition of the breast connective tissues in which the breasts become excessively large. The condition is often divided based on the severity into two types, macromastia and gigantomastia. Hypertrophy of the breast tissues may be caused by increased histologic sensitivity to certain hormones such as female sex hormones, prolactin, and growth factors.[1] Breast hypertrophy is a benign progressive enlargement, which can occur in both breasts (bilateral) or only in one breast (unilateral). It was first scientifically described in 1648.[2]