Incidence of male breast carcinoma in North Uganda: a survey at Lacor Hospital, Gulu, during 2009-2016

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on male breast cancer (MBC) incidence from sub-Saharan Africa.OBJECTIVE: This is a retrospective study on MBC in rural North Uganda, based on the pathology records of a private, non-profit, missionary hospital.METHODS: All male patients that had histological diagnosis of breast carcinoma from January 2009 to December 2016 were included in this study.RESULTS: In time span of 8 years, there were 337 consecutive breast cancer presentations, including 21 MBC (6.2%). The latter patients showed advanced disease (mean symptom duration: 20.3 months; mean tumour size: 5cm;) skin ulceration and ipsilateral lymph node metastasis: 60%). The mean age was 60.52 years (from 30 to 85 yrs). Ductal infiltrating carcinoma was the prevalent histological type in our series (65%), followed by an unusually high rate of papillary carcinomas (15%). There appeared to be a prevalence for left breasts (11 LT versus 6 RT; 64.7%), a finding also observed in the majority of MBC.CONCLUSIONS: This study is representative of the scenario in Northern Uganda, where MBC accounts for 6.2% of breast cancers, More information on the occurrence and risk factors of this unusual neoplasm in African countries may prompt prevention of chronic liver disease and early recognition and treatment of MBC.