Male breast cancer: a retrospective analysis of single center results

AIM Male breast cancers (MBC), constituting less than 1% of all breast carcinomas, are relatively rare. The average age of diagnosis is between 60-70 years and can affect males of all ages. In this study our aim was to present the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and survival outcomes of patients who were treated and followed up for ten years in out clinic, in accordance with literature. MATERIAL AND METHOD Records of MBC patients who were followed and treated at our clinic between January 2014 and January 2023 were examined retrospectively using the hospital database. Clinicopathological characteristics, treatments performed, overall and disease-free survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 19 patients were included in the study (mean age: 75.9±11.5, range: 57-96). Four patients with distant metastasis and other system malignancies at the time of diagnosis were excluded. The mean follow-up period was 43.8 months. The most common location of the tumor was to be the retroareolar region (63.2%). BRCA2 gene mutation analysis was positive in three patients. Eleven patients (57.9%) were at Stage 3. Eleven patients had invasive ductal carcinoma. Twelve patients belong to the luminal B subtype. Among the 13 patients who underwent axillary dissection 9 (69.2%) had lymph node involvement. Patients who developed distant metastasis had higher overall mortality and cancer-specific mortality. The body mass index (BMI) of deceased patients was lower than that of surviving patients during the follow-up period. Age group above 75 years had lower overall survival (log-rank p=0.0064) and cancer-specific survival (log-rank p=0.011). CONCLUSION In our study, we found that distant metastasis significantly affected the survival. Although male breast cancers are rare, early diagnosis, as in women, positively influences overall and disease-free survival.