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Adherence to 2021 ABS imaging recommendations in 148 male breast referrals at a UK hospital

Adherence to 2021 ABS imaging recommendations in 148 male breast referrals at a UK hospital
Photo by CDC / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Note that main results and safety data were not reported for this retrospective study of male breast referrals.

This study was a retrospective observational cohort investigation conducted at King George Hospital in the UK. It involved a population of 148 male patients who were referred to the symptomatic breast clinic. The primary focus was on adherence to the 2021 ABS imaging recommendations for conditions including male breast cancer, gynaecomastia, and benign breast pathologies. The comparator was the 2021 ABS guidance itself, with a follow-up period of one year.

The provided input data did not include specific main results, numerical outcomes, or detailed findings regarding the primary outcome of adherence. Consequently, no specific statistics or efficacy data can be presented. Safety data, including adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability, were not reported in the source information.

Key limitations regarding the study design, funding, conflicts of interest, and specific constraints on interpretation were not reported. The practice relevance and causality notes were also not provided. Therefore, the clinical relevance of these findings remains unclear based on the available information. Caution is advised when interpreting this study due to the lack of reported outcome data and the observational nature of the design.

Study Details

Study typeCohort
EvidenceLevel 3
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
IntroductionMale breast cancer represents a rare clinical diagnosis, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers. The vast majority of male breast referrals are attributed to benign pathologies, most commonly gynaecomastia. Despite the low incidence of malignancy, variability in clinical acumen and a low threshold for concern frequently result in excessive imaging. To mitigate this, the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) has issued national guidelines to standardise assessment and reduce unnecessary radiological exposure. This study aimed to evaluate male breast referrals to a high-volume UK breast unit over one year and assess adherence to ABS imaging recommendations.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of all male patients referred to the symptomatic breast clinic at King George Hospital between January and December 2022. Clinical presentation, P-scores, radiological imaging (M and U scores), histopathological outcomes, and medication history were extracted from hospital records and multidisciplinary systems. Imaging pathways were critically appraised against 2021 ABS guidance, stratifying patients by age (
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