Various Causes of Male Breast Lumps: Pictorial Review With Pathologic Correlation

The male breast is the source of a wide variety of benign and malignant conditions. Majority of breast lesions encountered in men are benign. Malignant breast lesions accounts for less than 1% of total male breast lesions. Differentiation between benign and malignant lesions is critical because it alleviates patient anxiety and avoids unnecessary procedures. In this exhibit, we illustrate various diseases presenting palpable lumps in the male breast and correlate with pathology. Men with palpable lumps in the breasts underwent ultrasonography. Mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography was also performed as needed. All were diagnosed histologically by ultrasound-guided biopsy. 1. Benign conditions including gynecomastia, fibrocystic change, subareolar abscess, hemangioma, hematoma/seroma, epidermal inclusion cyst, dermatofibroma, and lipoma/angiolipoma. 2. Malignant conditions including invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), mucinous carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. We reviewed a variety of male breast diseases that may present as palpable lumps. The majority of these lesions are benign. It is important for radiologists to distinguish suspicious lesions from the benign ones requiring no further work-up.