Clinical behavior of breast cancer in men in a Latin American population

Breast cancer in men is a rare disease in Colombia, with an estimated annual incidence of 1 case per 1,000,000 habitants, which is significantly lower than in other countries. Objective: To describe the clinical presentation, histopathology, initial treatment and relapse of male patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the National Cancer Institute between 1996 and 2011. Results: The study population was 27 patients. The main symptoms reported by patients were mass and pain. Most patients (89%) had locally advanced clinical stage (IIIB and IV). NOS ductal histological type was the most prevalent (82%). Hormone receptor was found in 22 of 27 patients, of whom 19 (86%) were positive. The percentage of patients undergoing surgery was 71% (20 patients), and the surgical technique used in 17 of the 20 patients was modified radical mastectomy. Axillary dissection and resection of the CAP was performed on all patients who underwent surgical treatment. The median follow up of patients was 8.9 months. Two patients had systemic relapse. None of the patients had locoregional relapse. Conclusion: A case series is presented of male patients with breast cancer, which is a disease of low incidence. Our patients are mainly presented in advanced stages, a greater proportion than that described in other Latin American series. Although tumour biology found good prognostic factors, it is not consistent with the fact that most tumours are advanced. (c) 2015 Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.