Yonsei Med J.  2008 Dec;49(6):978-986. 10.3349/ymj.2008.49.6.978.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Male Breast Cancer

• Park S
• Kim JH
• Koo J
• Park BW
• Lee KS

• KMID: 1782947
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2008.49.6.978

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of male breast cancer (MBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 20 MBC patients in comparison with female ductal carcinoma treated at Yonsei University Severance Hospital from July 1985 to May 2007. Clinicopathological features, treatment patterns, and survival were investigated. RESULTS: MBC consists of 0.38% of all breast cancers. The median age was 56 years. The median symptom duration was 10 months. The median tumor size was 1.7cm, 27.8% showed node metastasis, and 71.4% were estrogen receptor positive. All 20 cancers were arisen from ductal cells. No lobular carcinoma was found. The incidence of stages 0, I, II, and III in patients were 2, 10, 4, and 3, respectively. All patients underwent mastectomy. One with invasive cancer did not receive axillary node dissection and stage was not exactly evaluated. Adjuvant treatments were determined by pathologic parameters and stage. Clinicopathological parameters and survival rates of MBC were comparable to those of female ductal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The onset age of MBC was 10 years older and symptom duration was longer than in female patients. No difference in outcomes between MBC and female ductal carcinoma suggests that the biology of MBC is not different from that of females. Therefore, education, an appropriate system for early detection, and adequate treatment are necessary for improving outcomes.

Keyword

Male breast cancer

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Breast Neoplasms/mortality/pathology/therapy
Breast Neoplasms, Male/mortality/*pathology/therapy
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/mortality/pathology/therapy
Disease-Free Survival
Female
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Disease-free survival curve. The dotted line represents male breast cancer and the bold line represents female ductal carcinoma.

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  Fig. 2 Overall survival curve. The dotted line represents male breast cancer and the bold line represents female ductal carcinoma.

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