Male breast MRI: a review of different pathological conditions

Abstract

The male breast is predisposed to be affected by many of the same pathological processes as the female breast is. The diagnosis of male breast pathologies is generally achievable when clinical evaluation is combined with standard breast imaging methods such as mammography and ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging is also a valuable tool in diagnosing the main pathologies affecting the male breast, especially for evaluating pre- and post-surgical treatments and follow-up. However, although this technique has been sufficiently regulated and adopted by many breast radiologists for female breast imaging, its application in the diagnosis of male breast pathologies remains limited to a few specialized centers. This article, based on a retrospective analysis of the experience of the University of Verona, explores various aspects of male breast diseases, including benign conditions such as gynecomastia and breast implant ruptures in transgender women as well as malignant entities such as male breast cancer. Emphasis is placed on the distinctive morphological features, enhancement patterns and kinetics observed in male breast lesions on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the application of MRI in male breast disease assessment, highlighting the potential role of MRI as a complementary tool to traditional breast imaging techniques.

Keywords: Benign tumor; Breast cancer; Gynecomastia; Imaging; MRI; Male breast.