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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Clinical Imaging of Microwave Mammography
Published on: November 14, 2025
Value of diagnostic imaging for the symptomatic male breast: Can we avoid unnecessary biopsies?
Eric T Foo1, Amie Y Lee1, Kimberly M Ray1
1Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
Purpose:
To review the use of diagnostic breast imaging and outcomes for symptomatic male patients.
Methods:
We retrospectively evaluated 122 males who underwent diagnostic imaging for breast symptoms at our academic center.
Results:
The majority (94%) of cases had negative or benign imaging, with gynecomastia being the most common diagnosis (78%). There were two malignancies, both of which had positive imaging. Fifteen patients underwent percutaneous biopsy, and over half (53%) were palpation-guided biopsies initiated by the referring clinician despite negative imaging. Diagnostic imaging demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity for identifying cancer.
Conclusions:
Malignancy is rarely a cause of male breast symptoms. Diagnostic breast imaging is useful to establish benignity and avert unnecessary biopsies.
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