Audit of open breast biopsies in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Abstract

11091 Background: Open biopsy is an accurate method for diagnosis of breast tumors especially where facilities for needle biopsies like tru cut needle biopsy or aspiration cytology method are not readily available. We report a 10-year retrospective study of the clinical and pathological characteristics of excised breast masses in our centre. Methods: Clinical records and pathological results of all breast biopsies of consecutive patients referred to the Breast Clinic of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria were studied from January 1994 to December 2003. We present the outcome of the histology reports from breast biopsy for a period of 10 years (1994- 2003) in Abia State University Teaching Hospital. Results: A total of 421 patients had open biopsies for breast masses. The age ranged from 12 years to 80 years with the median age of 34 years. The commonest symptom was painless breast lump in 90% of patients; breast pain was present in less than 5% of cases. Malignancies were discovered in 24% of the cases and the predominant histological type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (NOS) which was found in 78% of cases, lobular carcinoma was found in 2% of cases. 79% of the breast cancers occur in pre menopausal women and the majorities (85%) were late stages. 79% of the patients with cancer of the breast were 50 years old or younger and the youngest patient was 14 years. The benign lesions in order of frequency were fibroadenoma (45%), fibroadenosis (41%), granulomas (5%), breast cyst (3%), and galactocele (2%).Other less common pathologies include lipoma, chronic abscesses and parasitic cysts. Conclusions: Majority of breast masses in Nigerian women are benign. The preponderance of late staged tumors and pre menopausal patients call for early detection, public awareness and improved screening methods No significant financial relationships to disclose.