Male breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Male breast cancer is considered a medical rarity; unlike female breast cancer, a worldwide health problem, male breast cancer only represents 0.5 % to 1 % of all diagnosed breast cancers.

Objective: To present a male patient with an infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the left breast.

Case presentation: The case is presented of a 49-year-old male patient who came to a mastology office with a lump in the left breast that had increased in size in the last month. Physical examination revealed a tumor of 5 cm in diameter occupying the entire areolar region of the left breast, with homolateral axillary lymphadenopathy. A breast and abdominal ultrasound were performed, as well as a chest X-ray to rule out distant metastasis and proceed to staging. After being discussed in multidisciplinary consultation, surgical treatment was decided (total extended mastectomy) after freezing and kerosene biopsies, which reported the presence of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The patient, one year after his operation, was found stable and receives, in the oncology service, treatment complementary to surgery.

Conclusions: Male breast cancer presents a low incidence worldwide and occupies in Cuba the nineteenth place among cancers affecting men, while its publication is considered of interest for the scientific personnel.