Giant Axillary Ectopic Breast in a Male Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Axillary masses have diverse origins and require systematic diagnosis and treatment. Among various diseases, ectopic breast tissue occurs when the regression of primitive mammary tissue fails in a location other than the pectoral breast. Ectopic breast tissue was significantly rarer in men, accounting for 5.3% of all cases. We report the case of a 57-year-old male patient who presented with a large axillary mass. Surgical excision and pathological biopsy were performed after comprehensively considering the rapidly increasing size, discomfort in daily life, and radiological findings that could not exclude sarcoma. Total excision of the mass was performed, and a 15×14×4 cm mass was extracted. The mass was histologically confirmed to be ectopic male breast tissue. We report a case of total excision of a rare giant axillary mass classified as ectopic breast tissue in a male patient and suggest the need to reconsider the possibility of various diseases rarely reported in men and the need for further research.