Triple-Negative Male Breast Cancer Presenting as Cutaneous Metastasis: A Diagnostic Rarity.

Abstract

Cancer of the male breast is a rare disease. It comprises less than 1% of all breast carcinomas and less than 1.5% of all malignant tumors in men. Male breast cancer presenting as skin metastasis is exceptionally uncommon. A review of the medical literature identified only a handful of such cases. We present a malignant axillary skin tumor with multiple visceral metastases originating from a breast primary. Although often grouped together, recent evidence indicates that male breast cancer is a distinct tumor on both genetic and molecular grounds when compared to the significantly more prevalent female breast cancer. Since new details and treatment strategies are emerging for male breast cancer, we wish to highlight a rather unusual presentation of this often-overlooked cancer. Skin metastasis is generally detected at the terminal stage of the malignancy. In our patient, however, the skin metastasis initiated the diagnostic workup.