Childhood And Adolescent Period Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is a global public health problem which draws attention with the gradual increase in morbidity and mortality rates. Unlike adults, breast cancers in children and adolescents are rarely seen. Since the risk factors are not well defined, cancer findings are mixed with other disease findings and follow-up/treatment processes differ. As a result, childhood/adolescent breast cancers are ignored. It is stated that the prognosis of childhood and adolescent breast cancers is not good, although they are seen in a limited number of patients, the mortality rate is high and it significantly affects the life of the patient and his/her family. The main aim of this compilation is to examine the literature on the pediatric and adolescent breast cancers and the treatment process. Its secondary purpose is to increase the awareness of health professionals and the society and help to create a guideline in this regard to pediatric surgeons, and nurses. Methods: We identified 24 case reports comprising the data of 24 cases of childhood or adolescent breast cancers that were reported between 2000 and 2018. Results: Twenty-four cases (10 males, 14 females) published about breast cancer in children and adolescents were reached. Pathologies of the patients with a mean age of 12.19±4.13 have been reported as secretory carcinoma (70.8%), infiltrative secretory carcinoma (8.3%), malignant phyllodes tumor (8.3%), pleomorphic carcinoma (4.2%), invasive ductal carcinoma (4.2%), secretory adenocarcinoma (4.2%). Modified radical mastectomy was performed in 26.31% of patients with secretory carcinoma, mastectomy in 52.63%, breast-conserving surgery in 10.53%, and wide local excision in 10.53%. While 33.3% of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, 29.2% were given radiotherapy. Two patients had recurrence after surgery (3-17 months; median: 10 months). Three patients died due to postoperative metastases. Conclusion: Breast malignancies are relatively rare in the pediatric and adolescent period. However, mortality rates are quite significant contrary to what’s believed. In these patients, difficulties in diagnosing the disease may affect the treatment process negatively. While there isn’t a consensus about the treatment of the disease, the authors reported a wide range of treatments with different combinations of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery, modified radical mastectomy and radical mastectomy.