Clinicopathological pattern of benign breast diseases among female patients at a tertiary health institution in Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Benign breast diseases are a neglected entity in developing countries despite the fact that they constitute the majority of breast complaints. There is a paucity of published information regarding benign breast diseases in Tanzania. This study describes our experience in the management of benign breast diseases outlining the clinicopathological pattern and treatment modalities of these diseases in our local setting.

Methods: This prospective descriptive study was conducted between November 2009 and March 2013 at Bugando Medical Centre in Tanzania on female patients aged 10 years and above presenting with benign breast diseases.

Results: A total of 346 female patients with benign breast diseases were studied. The majority of patients, 255 (73.7%) were younger than 30 years. Breast lump was the most frequent presentation in 67.6% of patients. Fibroadenoma 95 (60.0%) was the most frequently diagnosed benign breast disease followed by fibrocystic changes (19.0%). Out of 295 patients who had histopathological examination, 64 (21.7%) had proliferative lesions. Of these, 18 (28.1%) had proliferative lesions with atypia while 46(71.9%) had proliferative lesions without atypia. Eight (2.6%) patients were HIV positive with the median CD 4+ count of 258 cells/μl. The majority of patients, 295(85.2%) underwent surgical treatment of which lumpectomy was the most common procedure performed. 

Conclusion: Benign breast diseases are more common than malignancies in our environment and occur mainly in young women less than 30 years of age and were mostly fibroadenoma and fibrocystic change. Though premalignant lesions of proliferative lesions with atypia were less common in this study, it is advisable that all cases of breast lesions should be carefully evaluated to exclude possibility of breast cancer.