Abstract
A 61-year-old man complained of a left breast tumor with pain and red skin. Ultrasonography showed a relatively defined tumor with a heterogeneous hypoechoic internal echo below the left nipple. We suspected breast cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a ring-enhancing tumor and fistula near the mass. The image was compatible with subareolar abscess. On core needle biopsy, the presence of abscess was noted. He was prescribed antibiotics and no recurrence has been seen. Subareolar abscess of the male breast is an extremely uncommon disease and requires differentiation from breast cancer. We found 3 reports of subareolar abscess of the male breast in Japan. Histological examinations are often needed because of the indistinct image evaluation. This case indicates the importance of MRI in judging between subareolar abscess or cancer of the male breast.
