HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME Test (opens in a new window) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chen, L. Articles by Bassett, L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chen, L. Articles by Bassett, L. W. Related Collections Breast (Imaging and Interventional) Mammography

Imaging Characteristics of Malignant Lesions of the Male Breast¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, University of California, 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Room 165-47, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6952 (L.C., P.K.C., L.W.B.); the Department of Radiology, West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Los Angeles, Calif (P.K.C.); the Department of Radiology, University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif (L.H.L., E.Q.Z.); and the Department of Radiology, Washington University Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (P.B., M.R.). Presented as an education exhibit at the 2004 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received May 12, 2005; revision requested July 8 and received August 22; accepted August 29. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to L.C. (e-mail: lchen_mail{at}yahoo.com).

Most men referred for breast imaging have palpable lumps, breast enlargement, or tenderness. Most of the evaluated lesions are benign. Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of total male breast lesions. Differentiation between benign and malignant masses is critical because it alleviates patient anxiety and allows unnecessary procedures to be avoided. Clinically suspicious lesions referred for imaging should first be evaluated with mammography. In patients with questionable findings at mammography and for lesions that are difficult to image with mammography, ultrasonography (US) is often useful for further characterization. A discrete mass at mammography or US is suspicious for malignancy. The relationship of the mass to the nipple should be carefully assessed; an eccentric location is highly suspicious for cancer. Secondary signs occur earlier in male patients because of smaller breast size. Such signs include nipple retraction, skin ulceration or thickening, increased breast trabeculation, and axillary adenopathy. US of the axillary region is helpful for staging. At pathologic analysis, cystic lesions commonly demonstrate malignant findings; therefore, all cysts and complex masses should be worked up as potentially malignant lesions. Benign conditions that may mimic male breast cancer include gynecomastia, lipoma, epidermal inclusion cyst, pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia, and intraductal papilloma.

© RSNA, 2006

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. G. ODLE Breast Ultrasound Radiol. Technol., January 1, 2007; 78(3): 222M - 242M. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]