Breast masses in males with carcinoma of the prostate.

Breast masses in male patients who have prostatic carcinoma may represent gynecomastia secondary to estrogen therapy, metastasis of the prostatic carcinoma to the breast, or a primary carcinoma of the breast. Accurate diagnosis of this lesion by biopsy and, if possible, histochemical determination of acid phosphatase is essential to determine prognosis and treatment. The patient with breast metastases from a primary prostatic carcinoma will survive on the average only 4 mo. However, in the patient with prostatic carcinoma, surgical treatment for a primary breast carcinoma may extend survival considerably.