Very few studies have dealt with the male breast, in particular as compared with the female breast, no doubt as a result of the high incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women. However, in routine practice breast radiologists are often faced with male breast disorders, but often have difficulties because of the limited experience in this field. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to summarise the clinical, pathophysiological, radiological and ultrasonographic patterns of male breast disorders based on a review of personal cases (398 cases from 1993 to 2004), in an attempt to propose guidelines for a more consistent approach to this only apparently marginal branch of male pathology.