Prevention of Gynecomastia by Local Roentgen Irradiation in Estrogen-Treated Prostatic Carcinoma

The preventive effect of irradiation against estrogen-induced gynecomastia in prostatic carcinoma was studied in 78 patients. The left breast was irradiated two weeks before estrogen therapy was started. The right, non-irradiated breast served as a control. The incidence of gynecomastia was 90 per cent. More or less pronounced inhibition of gynecomastia in the irradiated breast was observed in 65 patients (83 per cent). The irradiation was most effective in preventing disc formation and pain and tension in the breast. It was somewhat less effective in preventing deposition of fat. The recommended irradiation dose is 1000 or 1250 rad at 180 kV given in a single dose two weeks before the start of estrogen therapy.