Clinico-pathological features of breast cancer in patients below 50 years of age in Khartoum

Abstract

Background: The burden of breast cancer is high among all age groups but younger age groups have recently shown a distinct pattern of presentation.
Objective: This study describes the clinicopathological features of breast cancer among Sudanese patients below the age of fifty who presented with breast cancer to the University Of Khartoum Surgical Unit (USU) in Khartoum Teaching Hospital (KTH).
Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive analytical hospital-based study. Data was collected by reviewing medical records of a total number of 292 female patients who presented to USU with breast cancer from January 2010 to December 2014.
Results: A total number of 292 patients of breast cancers were included. Of these 177(60.6%) were below the age of fifty. Analysis of below fifty years group showed that the majority of them were multiparous (78%). The lag time between the initial complaint and presentation was 3-6 months in 55%. Ninety nine (56%) presented with locally advanced breast cancer (stage III), while 17% had metastatic cancer at the time of presentation, and 27% presented with early breast cancer (stage I&II). Histopathological results showed invasive ductal carcinoma in 161(91.5%) patients, and the majority 14481.5%) ) were poorly differentiated tumors. Estrogen receptor (ER) status was negative in 106 (60%) patients.
Conclusion: Breast cancer amongst Sudanese patients who are younger than 50 years is characterized by a triad of longer lag time (>3 months) between the initial complaint and presentation, advanced clinical stages at the time of presentation (stages III&IV) and aggressive histopathological features (poor differentiation and negative ER). The majority of patients are multiparous and premenopausal.