Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast in an 80-year-old male – a case report

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon form of malignant neoplasm that arises within the salivary glands with 30% frequency of occurrence. Its breast localization is very rare, accounting for between 0.1% and 1% of all breast cancers. ACC derives from myoepithelium and is defined by its distinctive histologic appearance, very good prognosis and usually many years of survival. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast (AACB) has a wide age range that has been reported so far including young people. Metastasis to regional lymph nodes and also distant metastases are rare although there are cases of its recurrence that developed 10 years after primary diagnosis, so long-term follow-up is therefore necessary. Due to the low number of cases of ACCB and because there are predilective factors and low risk have been identified, no explicit rules of treatment have been established. The range of treatment extends from typical surgical resection to modified mastectomy with postoperative radiotherapy. There are only isolated cases reported of ACC developing in the male breast. We present a very uncommon case of ACC of the male breast and performed treatment.