[Cancer of the male breast].

BACKGROUND

Male breast cancer is a rare type of neoplasm, being 1% of all breast tumors. An increasing relevance is given to genetic factors. Familiarity is present in 10% of cases reported in literature. Gynecomastia is frequently associated. Personal experience about this pathology is compared with the most recent data of the literature.

METHODS

Nine cases of male breast cancer observed among 519 breast tumors operated between 1982 and 1997 are reported. Etiologic and prognostic aspects, surgical and complementary therapy of breast cancer in man are examined and the high rate of II-III stage patients, mostly ER+ and PR+ is underlined. Diagnosis is reached by ultrasonography and mammography, after an accurate clinical examination and confirmed by cytology after needle biopsy. The choice operation is total mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy according to Patey.

RESULTS

According to our experience, 5 patients died for non neoplastic pathology, 1 patient lost at follow-up, 3 patients still alive after 66, 60 and 12 months respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Male breast cancer is similar to the female one, but characterized by a higher hormone receptors positivity. Our survival data have no statistic significance. It is still discussed if prognostic difference between men and women is present or not.