European
Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume
27, Issue 4 , June 2001, Pages 429-431
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doi:10.1053/ejso.2000.1066
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Copyright © 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Case Report
Male breast neoplasia in association with selective serotonin re-uptake
inhibitor therapy: a report of three cases
Wallace W. A. H.a,
f1,
Balsitis M.a
and Harrison B. J.b
a Department of Histopathology,
Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
b Department of Surgery, Northern General Hospital,
Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
Accepted 3 October 2000;
Received Available online 5 March 2002.
Abstract
Male breast cancer is a rare condition with very poorly understood risk
factors. We report three cases of men with malignant and pre-malignant breast
disease who had all been prescribed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) for depression. Concerns about an association between this group of
drugs and breast cancer in women have been previously raised and experimental
evidence has suggested that these drugs could influence regulation of cellular
proliferation acting through internal cellular messengers. Risk factors for the
development of breast cancer are likely to be multifactorial, possibly more so
in women given the complex physiological changes that occur in the female
breast. Whilst the cases we report are anecdotal and other risk factors may be
present, we suggest that assessment of any possible contribution that SSRI
therapy may make to the development of breast neoplasia may be more easily
assessed in a male population.
Author Keywords: male; breast cancer; anti-depressant
therapy; risk factors
f1
Correspondence to: Dr W. A. H. Wallace, Consultant Histopathologist, Northern
General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)114 271 4278;
Fax: +44 (0)114 261 1034; E-mail: william.wallace@northngh-tr.trent.nhs.uk
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