Radiological Features of Male Breast Neoplasms: How to Improve the Management of a Rare Disease
Luca Nicosia,
Luciano Mariano,
Anna Carla Bozzini,
Filippo Pesapane,
Vincenzo Bagnardi,
Samuele Frassoni,
Chiara Oriecuia,
Valeria Dominelli,
Antuono Latronico,
Simone Palma,
Massimo Venturini,
Federico Fontana,
Francesca Priolo,
Ida Abiuso,
Claudia Sangalli,
Enrico Cassano
Affiliations
Luca Nicosia
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Luciano Mariano
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Anna Carla Bozzini
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Filippo Pesapane
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Vincenzo Bagnardi
Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Samuele Frassoni
Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Chiara Oriecuia
Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Valeria Dominelli
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Antuono Latronico
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Simone Palma
Department of Bioimaging, Radiation Oncology and Hematology, UOC of Radiologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
Massimo Venturini
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Insubria, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, 21100 Varese, Italy
Federico Fontana
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Insubria, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, 21100 Varese, Italy
Francesca Priolo
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Ida Abiuso
Radiology Department, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
Claudia Sangalli
Data Management, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
Enrico Cassano
Breast Imaging Division, Radiology Department, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
The primary aim of our study was to assess the main mammographic and ultrasonographic features of invasive male breast malignancies. The secondary aim was to evaluate whether a specific radiological presentation would be associated with a worse receptor profile. Radiological images (mammography and/or ultrasound) of all patients who underwent surgery for male invasive breast cancer in our institution between 2008 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed by two breast radiologists in consensus. All significant features of radiological presentation known in the literature were re-evaluated. Fifty-six patients were selected. The mean age at surgery of patients was 69 years (range: 35–81); in 82% of cases (46 patients), the histologic outcome was invasive ductal carcinoma. A total of 28 out of 56 (50%) patients had preoperative mammography; in 9/28 cases (32%), we found a mass with microcalcifications on mammography. The mass presented high density in 25 out of 28 patients (89%); the mass showed irregular margins in 15/28 (54%) cases. A total of 46 out of 56 patients had preoperative ultrasounds. The lesion showed a solid mass in 41/46 (89%) cases. In 5/46 patients (11%), the lesion was a mass with a mixed (partly liquid–partly solid) structure. We did not find any statistically significant correlation between major types of radiological presentation and tumor receptor arrangement. Knowledge of the main radiologic presentation patterns of malignant male breast neoplasm can help better manage this type of disease, which is rare but whose incidence is increasing.
