Male Breast Cancer: 5. Clinical Manifestations in 257 Cases in Denmark

A series of 257 cases of carcinoma of the male breast in Denmark during the period from 1 January 1943 to 1 July 1972 has been reviewed, and a number of clinical symptoms have been recorded and assessed. Male breast carcinoma comprised 0·8% of all breast carcinomata in Denmark. The average age was 65·2 years, which is considerably higher than in women. The median duration of symptoms was 6 months. In only 13% was a palpable tumour the single symptom present on referral. In 27% ulceration was found on admission. However, ulceration was not, as commonly supposed, a particularly early manifestation of male breast cancer. It has been proved that ulceration is significantly related to duration of symptoms and size of tumour. According to the TNM classification, 35% of 253 cases were in stage I, 11% in stage II, 42% in stage III and 12% in stage IV. There was a significant correlation between the duration of symptoms and the clinical stage, and the histological degree of malignancy and the clinical stage. Expressed by the classification into stages, the clinical picture was definitely more favourable on referral during the period 1958-72 than during the period 1943-57.