A clinicopathological evaluation of male patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Although male breast cancer constitutes only 1% of all breast cancers, its incidence is increasing and it is becoming an important public health issue. The present study aims to present the clinicopathological characteristics of surgically treated male breast cancer patients from multiple centers. Patients and Methods: Twenty-one male patients operated on for breast cancer were retrospectively examined in terms of clinical presentation, pathological characteristics, TNM staging status, and type of surgical treatment. Results: The mean age of the 21 patients was 62.3 years (range 38-94), with the majority being in the range of 50-69 years (61.9%). The most frequent finding was breast mass (85.7%). Most patients underwent modified radical mastectomy (76.1%), and the most prevalent histological type was invasive ductal carcinoma (85.7%). The majority of patients had stage II or III disease, and estrogen receptors were positive in 18 (85.7%) of the patients. Conclusion: Since male breast cancer is a rare condition, it is challenging to conduct prospective randomized trials. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the diagnosis and management of this condition. Thus, further studies and the implementation of specific guidelines or protocols for this subgroup of patients will aid better management. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.