Objective:

To explore the X-ray and ultrasonic features of male breast development and male breast cancer.

Methods:

From Mar. 2007 to Dec. 2017

13 cases of male breast development (mean age of 54.1 years) and 6 cases of male breast cancer (mean age of 57.5 years) were chosen. The lesions in 10 cases of male breast development were soft

and in 3 cases of male breast development and 6 cases of male breast cancer were hard. Among 6 cases of male breast cancer

2

had nipple discharge

5 had local or diffuse skin thickening

3 had crater nipple. No changes were observed in 13 patients with male breast development. The mother of one male breast cancer case had a history of breast cancer.

Results:

Three cases of male breast development showed irregular mass with non-sharp edges in the lower areola. The other 10 cases were characterized by non-symmetrical focal density shadows with centric growth. All six cases of male breast cancer had simple lumps with clear boundary and sharp edges

and 2 were leafshape

4 were irregular with short burrs. There were 5 cases of male breast cancer with skin thickening of the breast

4 with crater nipple

and 1 with fine polymorphous calcifications

thickened local blood vessels and axillary lymph node enlargement. Ultrasound showed low-echo mass in 1 case of male breast development and 6 cases of male breast cancer. The other 11 cases of male breast development were characterized by gland-like echoes.

Conclusion:

Mostmale breast development is characterized by gland-like density shadows

but rare cases could provide isolated nodules or masses

which should be distinguished from male breast cancer without characteristic calcifications. Two-dimensional ultrasound imaging and elastic imaging can be served as a good complement.