Sonographic Features of Palpable Breast and Axillary Lesions in Adult Male Patients: A Pictorial Essay

• Published in: Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 830 - 845
• Main Authors: Jung, Hyun Kyung, Lim, Yun-Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Radiology 01.07.2022; 대한영상의학회
• Subjects: Breast Imaging; 방사선과학
• ISSN: 1738-2637; 2951-0805; 2288-2928; 2951-0805
• DOI: 10.3348/jksr.2021.0122

The male breast is a non-functional and rudimentary organ, but similarly to the female breast, it can be affected by various diseases. In contrast to female breast cancer, male breast cancer has a low incidence, and there is no established breast cancer screening program for male patients. Therefore, the diagnostic evaluation is usually performed in male patients with symptoms such as palpability or pain in the breasts. Furthermore, most adult male patients who visit breast clinics sometimes present with not only breast symptoms but also axillary symptoms, and both the breast and axilla are usually examined during breast ultrasonography in daily clinical practice. The purpose of this pictorial essay was to present the sonographic features of various palpable breast and axillary lesions in adult male patients.The male breast is a non-functional and rudimentary organ, but similarly to the female breast, it can be affected by various diseases. In contrast to female breast cancer, male breast cancer has a low incidence, and there is no established breast cancer screening program for male patients. Therefore, the diagnostic evaluation is usually performed in male patients with symptoms such as palpability or pain in the breasts. Furthermore, most adult male patients who visit breast clinics sometimes present with not only breast symptoms but also axillary symptoms, and both the breast and axilla are usually examined during breast ultrasonography in daily clinical practice. The purpose of this pictorial essay was to present the sonographic features of various palpable breast and axillary lesions in adult male patients.