Pilomatrix carcinoma of the male breast: a case report

Pilomatrix carcinoma (PC) is a rare skin adnexal neoplasm derived from piliferous follicles, usually occurring in the head and neck region. An optimal treatment for PC has not yet been established, while surgery with wide margins is recommended, with radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy improving the curative effect. Location of this tumor in the breast is exceedingly rare, especially for a male. We now report an unusual case of a 53-year-old male who presented with 2 palpable masses in the right breast, which had been removed surgically about 4 and a half years prior, but recurred after 7 months. Ultrasonography revealed 2 irregular low-echo masses with a well-defined boundary, and computed tomography (CT) showed 2 soft tissue masses in subcutaneous tissue of the right breast. The tumors were completely removed without RT and chemotherapy. After about 4 years' follow-up, the patient remains free of local recurrence and metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, only 2 cases of PC in the breast region have been reported, but were female.