Summary Papillary carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare form of breast carcinoma in males. We report a case of an 83-year-old man who presented with a retroareolar palpable mass, associated with bloody nipple discharge. Cytological characteristics were rare clusters and papillary formations with enlarged hyperchromatic nuclei, surrounded by erythrocytes. Having in mind that a reliable cytological diagnosis of papillary carcinoma cannot be made and that all papillary lesions observed in cytological material should be excised for histological examination, breast conserving surgery (BCS) was performed. Histologically, cystic ducts were lined with atypical papillary formations bridging the duct lumen, but with the absence of both myoepithelial cells and stromal invasion. Prolactin and testosterone serum levels were decreased. Immunohistochemical examination on actin, estrogen and progesteron receptors was negative. The authors have pointed out that the patient had left orchiectomy, induced by tuberculous orchiepididymitis with scrotal fistula, performed thirty years before. Twelve months after breast conserving surgery, the patient is still alive.
