Male breast disease

A variety of benign and malignant breast conditions affect the male breast. Gynaecomastia is common in puberty and old age and only when it is progressive or presents outwith these age groups are specific investigations indicated. Male breast cancer accounts for approximately 0.7% of all breast cancers. Lifetime risk for a male with an affected mother and sister is 2.3% and some of the families carry the BRACA2 gene. Infection is uncommon but when it does occur, causes include smoking in periareolar sepsis.