Male breast cancer

Oral and maxillofacial metastasis of male breast cancer: Report of a rare case and literature review

Oral and maxillofacial metastatic tumors are uncommon, with the breast, prostate, lung, and kidney representing the most common primary sites. Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in male patients, and to date, only 8 cases of metastatic breast adenocarcinoma to the oral and maxillofacial region in a male patient have been reported in the literature. An 88-year-old male with previous history of a successfully treated primary breast adenocarcinoma 12 years earlier was referred for evaluation of an oral swelling lasting 6 months. Intraoral examination revealed a 2-cm reddish, pedunculated nodule with a smooth surface located in the left retromolar region. Imaging revealed maxillary sinus involvement. The patient underwent incisional biopsy, and microscopic evaluation revealed invasive tumor islands compounded by malignant epithelial cells, sometimes exhibiting ductal arrangement, which were positive for the estrogen receptor and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15. The final diagnosis was metastatic breast adenocarcinoma. Breast metastases are exceedingly rare in the oral and maxillofacial region of male patients; however, clinicians should consider breast metastasis when evaluating reddish oral nodules in older patients, including men, especially those with a history of malignancy.

[Breast cancer update in primary care: (V/V)]

Breast cancer is a prevalent disease affecting all areas of patients' lives. Therefore, family physicians ought to know thoroughly this pathology to optimize the health care services for these patients making the best use of available resources. A series of five articles on breast cancer is presented below. It is based on a review of the scientific literature over the last ten years. In this final section, the social, psychological, occupational and family issues related to the disease will be reviewed, as well as presenting some special situations of breast cancer, including breast cancer in men, during pregnancy and last stages of life. This summary report aims to provide a current and practical review about this disease, providing answers to family doctors and helping them to be by the patients for their benefit throughout their illness.