Pleomorphic Lobular Carcinoma in a Male Breast: A Rare Occurrence

Carcinoma of male breast is uncommon as it accounts for 0.7% of total breast cancer. The pathology of male breast cancer is remarkably similar to that of cancers seen in women. The same histological subtypes of invasive cancer are present, although papillary carcinomas (both invasive and in situ) are more common and lobular carcinomas are less common. The predominant histological type, in males, as in females, reported in large series has been infiltrating ductal carcinoma with scattered reports of infiltrating lobular carcinoma, all of them of classical type except for a single case of pleomorphic infiltrating lobular carcinoma. Herein, we describe a case of pleomorphic lobular carcinoma occurring in male breast. 1. Introduction Carcinoma arising in the male breast is a rare occurrence. The overall incidence in men is only 1% of that in women, which translates to a lifetime risk of 0.11% (as compared with about 13% in women). Risk factors are similar to those in women and include first-degree relatives with breast cancer, decreased testicular function (e.g., Klinefelter syndrome), exposure to exogenous estrogens, increasing age, infertility, obesity, prior benign breast disease, exposure to ionizing radiation, and residency in Western countries. Gynecomastia does not seem to be a risk factor. From 4% to 14% of cases in males are attributed to germline BRCA2 mutations. Male breast cancer accounts for 0.7% of total breast cancer [1]. Over the past 25 years, the incidence of male breast cancer has risen by 26%, from 0.86 to 1.08 per 100,000 population [2]. Approximately 85% of primary male breast carcinoma is invasive ductal carcinoma of the “no special type” subtype [3]. Carcinomas of the male breast grossly and microscopically are remarkably similar to those seen in females [4]. The predominant histological type, in males, reported in large series has been infiltrating ductal carcinoma with scattered reports of infiltrating lobular carcinoma [5], all of them were classical type except for single case of pleomorphic infiltrating lobular carcinoma [6]. 2. Case Report 2.1. Clinical Details A 55-year-old male presented with left breast mass of approximately five-month duration. There was no history of trauma, gynaecomastia, oestrogen administration, or drug use. Physical examination revealed a subareolar mass measuring 4 × 4？cm in size. Swelling was firm to hard and nontender. Overlying skin was free. There was no palpable axillary lymph node. Lumpectomy of the breast mass was done. 2.2. Pathological Findings On macroscopic examination, the specimen