Clinicopathological study of Japanese male breast carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all cancers in men. Compared to breast cancer in women, the natural history and prognosis of breast cancer in men is controversial.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed for 15 cases of male breast carcinoma, who were surgically treated in the Department of Surgery, Oita Prefectual Hospital, Oita, Japan, between 1980 and 2001.


RESULTS
Two men were classified as presenting with stage 0 disease by the TNM classification, two as stage I, four as stage II, and six as stage III. Two received chemotherapy, four received hormone therapy, and seven received combined therapy. ER was positive in 7 of 10 patients, and PgR in 8 of 10. Only one patient died of tumor recurrence, and this was 15.9 years after surgery. A trend was observed toward negative nodal involvement, earlier TNM stage at diagnosis, and an increase in the use of modified radical mastectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
A favorable prognosis was recognized in male breast carcinoma, regardless of late stage, and hormonal therapy should be used for patients suffering from this disease.
Takeuchi
Hideya
H
Department of Surgery, Oita Prefectural Hospital, Bunyo 476, Oita 870-8511, Japan.
Shirasaka
Chiaki
C
Tsuji
Kohichi
K
Ueo
Hiroaki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies