부산대학교 도서관

Aim-Background:A small but significant percentage of patients that present with breast problems are men. The usual complaint is breast enlargement, lumps or pain, while inflammation and nipple discharge are very rare presentations. This retrospective audit aims to discuss the management of the small but significant percentage of newly presented male breast patients.Methods:Between October 1998 and October 2007, 748 new male patients with a mean age of 44.67 years were referred to the breast clinic. These patients represent 4.25% of the total number of patients referred to us during the study period. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical notes of those patients treated surgically.Results:During this time, there were 14 newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer (1% of the newly diagnosed breast cancer patients) with a mean age of 68.29 years (47–87), 5 patients with subareolar abscess with a mean age of 25 years (0–57 years) who were managed accordingly and 66 patients with a mean age of 26 year (11 years–82 years) who finally, underwent surgery for gynaecomastia. The vast majority of the remaining patients (99.1%) had a degree of gynaecomastia but either refused surgery or were managed medically.Conclusion:Early referral, thorough triple assessment of the patients (clinical examination, imaging and histology) and appropriate intervention procedures under the right indications is the key to early diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent favorable outcomes. Reassurance and conservative management is adequate for the vast majority of non-cancer patients while good selection criteria are necessary for optimal results in gynaecomastia surgery. Breast inflammation, though rare among men, should be managed aggressively, with the exception of infants.