Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease representing less than 1% of all malignancies in men and
only 1% of all incident breast cancers. Our study details clinico-pathological features, treatments and prognostic
factors in a large Moroccan cohort.
Findings: One hundred and twenty-seven patients were collected from 1985 to 2007 at the National Institute of
Oncology in Rabat, Morocco.
Median age was 62 years and median time for consultation 28 months. The main clinical complaint was a mass
beneath the areola in 93, 5% of the cases. Most patients have an advanced disease. Ninety-one percent of tumors
were ductal carcinomas.
Management consisted especially of radical mastectomy; followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and hormonal therapy
with or without chemotherapy. The median of follow-up was 30 months. The evolution has been characterized by
local recurrence; in twenty two cases (17% of all patients). Metastasis occurred in 41 cases (32% of all patients). The
site of metastasis was the bone in twenty cases; lung in twelve cases; liver in seven case; liver and skin in one case
and pleura and skin in one case.
Conclusion: Male breast cancer has many similarities to breast cancer in women, but there are distinct features
that should be appreciated. Future research for better understanding of this disease at national or international
level are needed to improve the management and prognosis of male patients