Male breast carcinoma--a review of 301 cases from the Christie Hospital & Holt Radium Institute, Manchester

Abstract

A series of 301 cases of male breast carcinoma has been analysed; of these, 292 have been treated at The Christie Hospital, Manchester and followed-up for a maximum of 15 years. The mean age was 63 years. The corrected survival was 52%, 38% and 36% at 5, 10 and 15 years respectively. For clinical Stage I, the 15 year survival was 61%. Since 1976, adjuvant Tamoxifen for one year has been administered to patients with operable Stage II (path) and Stage III disease following surgery and radiotherapy. Twenty-three patients so treated have a corrected survival of 55% at 5 years compared to 28% previously. Of 22 tumours assayed for oestrogen and progesterone receptors, 86% showed a positive result. For recurrent/metastatic disease, the drug Tamoxifen is recommended as the treatment of choice.