[Male breast cancer. Report of eight cases]

ABSTRACT

Male breast cancer is relatively rare. We report herein 8 cases with clinical, biological and therapeutic characteristics. A retrospective study included all male breast cancers in our institution between 1998 and 2004. Mean age of the 8 patients was 67 years [52 to 81 years]. Patients presented with a breast lump [n=4], nipple discharge [n=2], Paget disease's [n=1], and on physical exam in patient with colon cancer [n=1]. The cancer localized in the right side [n=7] or the left side [n=1]. The tumor localized in subareolar region [n=7] or in the right lower outer quadrant [n=1]. The tumor size was between 1 and 2 cm [n=2], or between 2 and 5 cm [n=6]. One patient had pleuro-pulmonary metastases. The surgical treatment consisted of modified radical mastectomy [n=6], total simple mastectomy [n=1], and lumpectomy [n=1]. The final pathology showed infiltrating ductal carcinoma [n=6], infiltrating papillary carcinoma [n=1], and ductal carcinoma in situ with mini-invasion [n=1]. The lymph nodes were positive in 83.3% of cases. The estrogen and progesterone receptors were positive in 100% and 83.3% of cases respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or both was given in 2 cases, 1 case, and 5 cases respectively. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 72 months. The patient with metastases died 7 months after the diagnosis. The other patients [n=7] remained free of disease. Male breast cancer is relatively rare with predominance of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Modified radical mastectomy remains the optimal surgical treatment. Hormone receptors were positive in all our patients and hormonal therapy with Tamoxifen remains the cornerstone of adjuvant therapy