[Male breast cancer in Morocco]

Male breast cancer is a rare disease, often of late presentation and poor prognosis. The aim of this work was to analyze the different clinical and therapeutic features for this disease in men.

This was retrospective study including 12 cases of male breast cancer seen in the Dermatology department of Casablanca between 1988 and 1999.

The mean age of the patients was 60 years and the mean delay to consultation was 27 months. The skin was involved by tumor in 11 cases. Ulceration of the skin by tumor was seen in eight patients, and direct extension of the tumor into the nipple without ulceration was seen in three patients. Axillary lymph node involvement was seen in eight patients. Seven patients with invasive disease had metastases at distance. Treatment was usually surgical. Complementary treatment included radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or hormonotherapy.

Although breast cancer in men is far less common than breast cancer in women, it is associated with less favorable prognosis because diagnosis is usually made at an advanced stage. Concerted efforts must be made to educate both the public and health professionals, in order to make earlier diagnosis and thereby improve prognosis.