A study of clinical patterns in benign breast disorders

Abstract

Background: This is a prospective study aimed at evaluating patients presenting with breast related complaints at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pimpri, Pune. It outlines various clinical patterns in benign breast disorders; this includes age, type of presentation, side and quadrant of breast involved, size of breast lump and the eventual diagnosis.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pimpri, Pune, between July 2016 and July 2017. Author evaluated 50 patients, male and female, of all ages, presenting with complaints suggestive of a benign breast disorder. Patients that were a proven case of carcinoma of breast and those diagnosed with a malignant condition of the breast during evaluation were excluded from the study.Results: The incidence of benign breast disorders is the highest in the age group of 21 to 30 years (42%). Most common presentation of benign breast disorder in the series was found to be lump in the breast (58%). The Left breast (44%) was noted to be more commonly involved than the Right breast (40%). Most commonly involved quadrant of breast was the upper inner quadrant (30%), followed by the upper outer quadrant (24%).Most of the breast lumps were of size ranging from 3 to 3.9cm (36.58%) followed by those of size ranging from 2 to 2.9cm. (21.95%). Fibroadenoma (42%) was the most common benign breast disorder in present study, followed by fibro-adenosis (18%).Conclusions: Every benign breast disorder presents in a certain age group and follows a certain clinical pattern as outlined in this study. Detailed history taking and clinical examination while keeping in mind these clinical patterns, along with ultrasound and FNAC (triple test), aids in establishing the diagnosis of a benign breast disorder within 72 hours. Hence, the anxiety caused by breast lumps and nodularity can be alleviated by excluding the diagnosis of carcinoma breast. And since majority of benign lesions are not associated with an increased risk for subsequent breast cancer, unnecessary surgical procedures can be avoided.