Case ReportReport of a male patient with brain metastases from breast cancer
Introduction
Male breast cancer is a rare disease, being diagnosed in approximately 1500 patients per year in the United States.1 A search of the Medline literature database yielded only one report describing the treatment of a male patient with brain metastases from breast cancer.2 If the results recorded in female patients are used as a basis of calculation, an incidence of 5% might be expected across all stages 5 years after the primary diagnosis.3
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Case report
In October 2002, a 69-year-old male patient presented with nausea, confusion, somnolence and paresis of his right leg. He had previously been treated for invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast, which was diagnosed in June 1995. At that time, the patient had been treated with subcutaneous mastectomy and axillary dissection. Tumor stage was pT2 pN1biii (7/13) M0 G3 R0 [estrogen receptor (ER) positive in 80%, progesterone receptor (PR) positive in 60%, Her2/neu score +1]. Adjuvant treatment
Discussion
Recent review articles have summarized current knowledge about male breast cancer, a rare disease that is diagnosed mainly in elderly men (median age 63–67 years).1,4 Risk factors might include positive family history (mother or sister), less physical activity and higher weight and body mass index than average.5 In the majority of cases the tumor type is ductal invasive carcinoma that is both ER and PR positive, under 40% overexpressing Her2/neu or p53. Prognostic factors include stage, tumor