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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
05:28
Clinical Imaging of Microwave Mammography
Published on: November 14, 2025
Sonographic features of gynecomastia
Vandana Dialani1, Janet Baum, Tejas S Mehta
1Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA. vdialani@bidmc.harvard.edu
Summary
Sonography can identify gynecomastia in men, showing specific mass features like retroareolar location and increased nipple depth. Recognizing these sonographic patterns helps avoid unnecessary biopsies.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Gynecomastia is a common clinical condition in men.
- Mammography is the primary imaging modality for gynecomastia.
- Sonography may be used when mammography is declined or inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize sonographic features of gynecomastia.
- To establish sonographic patterns associated with gynecomastia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of breast sonograms in 158 male patients over 5 years.
- Joint review of sonograms by 3 investigators.
- Assessment for mass presence, characteristics (location, vascularity, axis, posterior tissues, echo texture), or increased anteroposterior (AP) nipple depth.
Main Results:
- 153 men with gynecomastia were analyzed.
- 73 masses (33%) were identified: nodular, poorly defined, or flame-shaped, predominantly retroareolar, hypoechoic, avascular, parallel to the chest wall.
- 146 patients without masses (67%) showed increased AP nipple depth (97%).
Conclusions:
- Sonography can reveal characteristic patterns of gynecomastia.
- Recognizing these sonographic findings is crucial to prevent unnecessary biopsies.
- Gynecomastia is a clinical diagnosis, with sonography serving a complementary role in imaging.
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