Invasive lobular carcinoma of the male breast

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Surgery Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 365 - 366
• Main Authors: Erhan, Yamaç, Zekioglu, Osman, Erhan, Yildiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada CMA Impact Inc 01.10.2006; CMA Impact, Inc; Canadian Medical Association
• Subjects: Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Breast; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms, Male - pathology; Breast Neoplasms, Male - surgery; Carcinoma, Lobular - pathology; Carcinoma, Lobular - surgery; Care and treatment; Case Note; Diagnosis, Differential; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Males; Mastectomy; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Surgery; Tumors; Canada
• ISSN: 0008-428X; 1488-2310

Histological examination of paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin revealed massive infiltration with small, relatively round tumour cells. Neoplastic cells displayed roundto-ovoid nuclei and a thin rim of cytoplasm with an occasional intracytoplasmic lumen. Loosely cohesive tumour cells diffusely infiltrated the mammary stroma (Fig. 1). Alcian blue-periodic acid-schiff staining was positive for intracytoplasmic mucin in tumour cells. Tumour cells were positive for estrogen receptor (40%), p53 protein (20%), c-erB-2 oncoprotein (diffuse) and MIB-I antibody (25%), but negative for E-cadherin. Fifteen axillary lymph nodes were dissected and were negative for metastasis. A regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m^sup 2^), epirubicin (100 mg/m^sup 2^) and 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m^sup 2^) in 6 cycles was given, and tamoxifen (20 mg/d for 5 yr) was prescribed. The patient is alive without any residual or metastatic disease 24 months after diagnosis. Lobular breast carcinoma in men is extremely rare because lobules and acini are not found in normal male breast tissue.2 However, lobules can be seen rarely in the male breast.4 Lobular carcinoma in situ has been reported in only 2 cases because of the absence of terminal lobules in the normal male breast. The only reported cases were in conjunction with invasive lobular carcinoma.5 In our case, although an in situ lobular component was not present, the characteristic histological appearance and E-cadherin negativity in tumour cells are reliable diagnostic criteria.