Male Breast

Question 1

What is the male breast mainly composed of?

Answer 1

Fat

Question 2

What aids in the lack of breast development?

Answer 2

Testosterone

Question 3

What do men lack compared to women in the breast and why?

Answer 3

• Lack Cooper ligaments
• Not needed for structural support

Question 4

What do men have compared to women thats more prominent?

Answer 4

Prominent pectoralis major muscles

Question 5

Primary male breast cancer makes up how much of all male cancers?

Answer 5

Less than 1%
- 300 deaths per year

Question 6

What is the mean age for breast cancer in males?

Answer 6

59
- 10 years older compared to females

Question 7

Incidence of breast cancer is higher in what ethnicity?

Answer 7

Black males
- most prevalent in Northern Europe and North America

Question 8

What are the risk factors for breast cancer (male and female)? (10)

Answer 8

1. Advance age
2. Radiation exposure
3. Occupational heat exposure
4. Treatment with estrogen based hormones (eg. prostate cancer)
5. Family history of breast cancer
6. Previous history of breast cancer
7. History of atypical ductal hyperplasia
8. Late first term pregnancy
9. Nulliparity
10. Obesity

Question 9

How does breast cancer most commonly present in males?

Answer 9

Painless palpable mass
- 80-90%

Question 10

What are other ways male breast cancer presents? (3)

Answer 10

1. Nipple discharge (10-15%)
2. Skin thickening
3. Ulceration

Question 11

What are uncommon in male breast cancer?

Answer 11

Microcalcifications

Question 12

How does male breast cancer normally appear on U/S?

Answer 12

Spiculated and ill-defined

Question 13

What is the most common breast cancer in males?

Answer 13

Invasive or infiltrating ductal carcinomas