Pattern of Presentation of Breast Disease at Surgical Outpatient Clinic of a Medical College in North East, India

Abstract

BACKGROUNDBenign breast diseases encompass a wide range of clinical and pathologic entities and globally they are the most common lesions accounting for 90% of the clinical presentation related to breast, but much concern is given to malignant lesions of the breast. The clinician must differentiate between them and give appropriate treatment for each case and avoid unnecessary longterm followup.The objective is to study the pattern of presentation of breast disease in different age groups attending surgical outpatient clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis is a descriptive study of 302 females with breast symptoms who presented in surgical outpatient clinic at a state medical college located in the capital city of a north eastern state of India from 1 st April 2015 to 31 st March 2017. RESULTSOut of 302 cases, 210 (69.54 %) were benign followed by 75 (24.83%) inflammatory and 9 (2.98%) cases of malignant lesions. The overall mean age of patients with breast lesion was 32 ± 11.29 SD. Fibroadenoma was the most common condition in benign breast disease with 82 (27.15 %) cases and with mean age of 29.25 ± 9.74 years. CONCLUSIONThe commonest benign breast lesion encountered in surgical practice is fibroadenoma and the peak age of presentation is the second decade of life. The commonest mode of presentation in patients with breast disease is the palpable breast lump followed by mastalgia. Triple assessment plays a significant role in diagnosis and evaluation of breast disease. KEYWORDS BACKGROUNDThe breast is an appendage of skin and is a modified sweat gland. It is composed of glandular tissue, fibrous or supporting tissue and fat, which lies between the skin and the pectoral fascia, to which it is loosely attached. It extends from the clavicle superiorly down on to the abdominal wall, where it extends over the rectus abdominis, external oblique and serratus anterior muscles. The lifecycle of the breast consists of three main periods: development (early reproductive life), mature reproductive life and involution. 1 Breast problems for which patients consult doctors are breast pain, nipple discharge and palpable masses. Breast diseases include benign, inflammatory and malignant conditions. Benign breast diseases encompass a wide range of clinical and pathologic entities and globally they are the most common lesions accounting for 90% of the clinical presentation related to breast. 2,3