Male inflammatory breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast malignancy.
• Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers.
• Clinical differentiation from benign conditions like gynecomastia is crucial.

Observation:

• A 48-year-old male presented with clinical signs of breast thickening and erythema.
• Mammography revealed increased density, coarsened stroma, and an underlying mass in the right breast.
• Sonography identified a 2-cm ill-defined hypoechoic mass.

Findings:

• Pathologic examination confirmed infiltrating duct cell carcinoma with lobular features.
• The case illustrates the diagnostic process for male inflammatory breast cancer.
• Approximately 1500 men are diagnosed with breast cancer annually.

Implications:

• Early recognition and accurate diagnosis of male breast cancer are vital.
• Imaging modalities play a key role in differentiating malignancy from benign conditions.
• This case underscores the importance of considering breast cancer in men presenting with suspicious breast changes.