The male breast is susceptible to many of the same pathological processes that can occur in the female breast. We have reviewed the clinical and imaging features and pathological findings where relevant, of benign and malignant tumours, many with overlapping morphological features, which can affect the male breast.

Over the past decade there has been a definite rise in the number of imaging studies performed in male patients presenting to symptomatic breast clinic with pain, lump or both. Most male related breast disease is usually benign or a cutaneous lesion (1,2), however approximately 1% of all new breast cancer diagnosis are accounted for by men(1). One of the main challenges faced by the Breast Radiologist dealing with male breast disease is the overlap in clinical and imaging features of benign and malignant breast...

BENIGN MALE BREAST DISEASE 1.GYNAECOMASTIA (See figures 1-3) The most common abnormality within the male breast is gynaecomastia(3). Affects up to 40-60% of the male population (5). It is caused by benign ductal and stromal proliferation (4). There are various etiologies of gynaecomastia some of which are: Physiological - during infancy, adolescence or senescence. Drugs – marijuana, cimetidine, spironolactone etc. Hormonal – Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) Cirrhosis and chronic renal disease Neoplasms e.g. germ cell tumours Idiopathic Clinical Presentation: Usually presents as a soft, tender, concentric,...

Familiarity with the natural history, clinical characteristics, imaging features and pathology of tumours that occur in the male breast can help with radiological differential diagnosis and optimisation of treatment, thereby avoiding unnecessary and often invasive procedures

1.Iuanow E, Kettler M, Slanetz PJ. Specturm of disease in male breat. AJR Roentgenol 2011;196(3):W247-W259.2.Chen L, Chantra PK, Larsen LH, et al.Imaging breast.Radiographics 2006; 26(4):9931006.3.Radiographics volume 33 number 2 lattin et all4.Radiographics may-june 2013 7645.ESR 3 of 356.J Cytol. 2012 Jul-Sep; 29(3): 169–172Epidermal inclusion cyst in breast: Is it so rare?7.Jesinger RA, Lattin GE Jr, Ballard EA, Zelasko SM, Glassman LM.Vascualrabnormalities of the breas:arterial and venous disorders, vascualr masses , and mimiclesions with radiologic-pathologic correlation.Radiographics 2011;31(7):E117-E1368.Chantra PK, so GJ Wollman JS, Bassett LW.Mammography of the...