Clinical Pattern Of Male Breast Cancer In Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Carcinoma of the breast in males is of interest because it is relatively uncommon and because presentation of the disease in hospitals is usually late owing to poor awareness and neglect. This study aimed to describe the pattern of the disease in our hospital.
Method: Consecutive cases of male breast cancer presenting at the Ife Hospital Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between January 1993 and December, 2003 were studied noting the manifestation, duration of symptoms, diagnoses, treatment and outcome in the patients.
Results: Of 249 histologically proven cases of breast cancer managed during the study period, 8(3.2%) were males, giving a male to female ratio of 1:31. They were aged 51-80 years with a mean of 64.7 +SD9.7 years. Mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 9 months. Painless breast mass and ulceration were the commonest symptoms. All patients presented in the late disease stage, 3(37.5%) in AJCC stage III and 5(62.5%) presented with stage IV disease. Histopathology in 6(75%) confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma, the two others had only fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis. Three of the patients had simple mastectomy while others due to advanced disease could only be offered adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 2 years of follow-up, 3(37.5%) patients had died, one patient had re-presented with recurrence at the site of operation while the other 4 patients (50%) had been lost to follow up.
Conclusion: The study underlined the uncommon occurrence of male breast cancer and late presentation, low survival rate and poor follow up of cases in our environment.


Keywords: Male breast cancer, Presentation, Outcome

Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp. 24-27