Presentation
Cough and dyspnea.
Patient Data
On frontal view, there are multiple well-circumscribed rounded opacities with regular thin calcified walls (egg-shell calcifications) seen over the bases of both lungs' shadows.
On the lateral view, these calcified shadows are seen over breast shadows, representing oil cysts.
Old healed left clavicular middle third fracture.
Case Discussion
Incidentally noted oil cysts in male breasts shadow in a chest x-ray (BI-RADS 2). The patient has a remote history of chest trauma in an accident. Breast oil cysts develop as sequels of traumatic fat necrosis. On x-rays or mammograms, they show characteristic eggshell wall calcification. No need for further evaluation or follow-up.
Breast lesions are a common pitfall in chest X-rays. The breast extends from the second through sixth anterior ribs. The sternum defines its medial border and the midaxillary line for its lateral extent.
Eggshell calcification in the thorax usually refers to peripherally calcified lymph nodes in the mediastinum that have many differential diagnoses. The value of lateral view differentiates breast lesions from lung or mediastinal lesions.
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