Adenoid cystic carcinoma in a male breast: a case report and literature review

Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma (BACC) is a rare occurrence constituting less than 0.1% of primary breast cancers. BACC is even more rare in male patients. Furthermore, there are currently no concrete treatment guidelines for BACC. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a thoughtful evaluation and diagnostic workup when a potential case is encountered. We report a 63-year old male who initially presented to the dermatologist with a nonhealing inflamed leiomyoma of the left breast, raising suspicion for inflammatory breast cancer. A percutaneous biopsy was performed, and pathology revealed fragments of cribriform and papillary-like carcinoma, leading to a differential diagnosis including adenoid cystic carcinoma and basal-like ductal carcinoma in situ. A modified radical mastectomy was performed, and final surgical pathology revealed BACC. The patient did not receive any adjuvant therapy and is currently without any evidence of disease.