Benign breast disease pattern and prevalence in Calabar- a 5 year histopathologic review

Abstract

Background: The presence of breast lump(s) is one of the most common reasons for hospital visits by women especially those of reproductive age. Despite the heightened anxiety associated with the discovery of breast lump often erroneously thought to be breast cancer, majority of these lumps are usually found to be benign histologically. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of benign breast diseases in Calabar , Nigeria and to profile their histologic patterns.

Method: A descriptive retrospective review over a period of 5 years (January 2012 – December 2017) of laboratory request forms and histopathology records of all patients whose specimens were received in the Department of Histopathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria were analysed for clinical findings, histopathology reports and demographic data like age, sex etc.

Results: Of the 380 reports retrieved 8(2.1%) were male and 372(97.9%) were females. The mean age of the patients was 25.4 ± 9.9 years with majority of the patients in the 2 and 3 decade of life. Gynaecomastia (62.5%) was the commonest benign breast lesion found in males. Fibroadenoma (59.3%) was most frequently found among the females followed by fibrocystic disease and fibrocystic changes (16.4%). Atypical ductal hyperplasia (0.8%) was less commonly found.

Conclusion: Benign breast diseases are common amongst young female patients within the 2 and 3 decades of life in Calabar, Nigeria with fibroadenoma being the commonest histologic type.

Keywords: Breast, Benign, Histopathology, Calabar