Age distribution and types of breast lesions among Afghan women diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) at a tertiary care centre in Afghanistan: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesIn Afghanistan, breast diseases are a common reason for women to visit hospitals. This is the first study in Afghanistan aimed to describe the age distribution and types of breast diseases among patients diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.DesignDescriptive cross-sectional study.SettingFrench Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, Kabul, Afghanistan.ParticipantsThe study included 650 patients with breast lesions between 1 April 2015 and 1 April 2019.ResultsThe mean age of diagnosis was 35.38 (SD ±13.11) years, ranging from 15 to 75 years. The most common diagnosis was cancer (24% of all cases). The second most common diagnosed lesion was fibroadenoma, constituting 22.4%, and the third most common lesion was fibrocystic changes, with 15.4% of cases. Inflammatory conditions were diagnosed in 9.7% of cases, granulomatous inflammation in 9.1%, lesions only suspicious for malignancy in 5.5%, lipoma in 2.8% and miscellaneous benign lesions in 11.1%. Cancer was diagnosed at the youngest age of 20 years. Cancer was more common on the left side (62%), and only one case (0.9%) was bilateral.ConclusionOur study showed that cancer was the most commonly diagnosed lesion and was reported at younger ages too. This suggests that physicians should not ignore any breast lump in younger patients and that the possibility of cancer must be considered. Further country-wide studies are suggested to assess breast cancer and associated risk factors.

The Importance of Clinical Data for the Diagnosis of Breast Tumours in North Afghanistan

“…In these areas, patients suffer from poor hygiene, poor transport facilities to health centres and limited medical knowledge in self-assessment [ 3 – 6 ]. There are only sparse data on breast cancer in Afghanistan [ 7 – 9 ].…”

Breast cancer awareness among Afghan refugee women in Turkey

“… 32 Furthermore, studies of BC in Afghan women suggest that the mean age of diagnosis is younger than the global average, emphasizing the importance of instituting cancer awareness programs for a wide demographic of Afghan women. 23 The mean participant age in our study was 35 years, nearing the Turkish recommended breast cancer screening start age of 40 years, further emphasizing the need for rapid institution of BC awareness initiatives in this population.…”

“…Formal data regarding breast cancer diagnoses in Afghanistan are severely limited, but a recent study found a mean age at breast cancer diagnosis of only 43 years old, significantly lower than global average of approximately 62 years old. 23 , 24 Therefore, an assessment of cancer awareness specifically among Afghan refugees is critically needed. The present study begins to address this urgent need by investigating the level of awareness of BC among Afghan refugees in Turkey.…”

A Scoping Review on the Status of Female Breast Cancer in Asia with a Special Focus on Nepal

“…A study conducted in Afghanistan between 2015 and 2019 from 650 patients with breast lesions, 24% were diagnosed with breast cancer when cytology tests were performed, with an average age of cancer diagnosis being 43.6 years and the earliest age being 20 years. 34 Breast cancer has been more common among Arab women over the last 26 years, with 45,980 new cases and 20,623 deaths reported in 2016 in the region. 35 Aggressive breast tumors were reported 19,755 in Sri Lankans in the years 2001–10.…”