Pure mucinous carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastasis in a male breast

Abstract

Pure mucinous carcinoma of the male breast is an extremely uncommon malignant breast neoplasm and usually occurs at advanced age. It is characterized by a higher degree of mucus production, a more benign behavior, a lower incidence of metastatic nodal involvement, and a subsequent higher survival rate. We describe such a case of a 59-year-old male, who displayed a gradually growing retroareolar tumor of the right breast. The tumor was well demarcated and had a soft consistency with a gelatinous appearance. Based on the preoperative clinical identification of right axillary lymphadenopathy, the patient eventually underwent right modified radical mastectomy and right axillary nodal dissection. Regarding histological findings, the neoplasm corresponded to a pure mucinous carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastasis. Although lymph node metastasis of pure mucinous carcinoma of the breast is rare, it is essential to perform careful clinical examination when the primary breast mass is suspicious for mucinous carcinoma, because the presence of axillary lymphadenopathy will subsequently define the proper choice of therapeutic strategy.