Pattern of breast diseases in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Breast diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among patients attending hospitals in Imo State. 

Aim:  To determine the pattern of breast diseases in Imo State and compare it with reports from previous studies from the eastern part of Nigeria.

Methods:  This was a retrospective study of all the patients treated for breast diseases in the two government hospitals in Owerri, namely, General Hospital Owerri, and Federal Medical Centre Owerri, between January 2000 and December 2006.

Results:  A total of 276(84.2%) out of 328 cases had histopathological reports.  Fibroadenoma was the commonest type accounting for 131 (47.5%) of the cases.  This was followed by carcinoma of the breast which accounted for 84 (30.4%) of the cases.  Fibrocystic disease of the breast was diagnosed in 28(10.1%) of the cases.  The peak age range for cancer patients was 41-50 years.  The youngest cancer patient was 18 years while the oldest was 73 years. The median age was 43 years. However, in the males, the breast cancer occurred much later in this study.  The youngest male was 63 years.  The male patients constituted 6.0% of the cases with a male to female ratio of 1:16.

Conclusion:  Fibroadenoma constitutes the most common type of breast disease in this study followed by breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer among our male subjects was higher than the 1% generally quoted in literature.

Keywords: Breast diseases, Carcinoma, Fibroadenoma, Pattern, Nigeria