Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer : Clinical Presentation and Patterns of Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Background : Breast cancer is the most common cancer of
women. When breast cancer is detected and treated early,
the chances for survival are better. Surgery is the most
important treatment for non-metastatic breast cancer.
Al-Kindy Col Med J 2008 Vol.5(1) 40 Original Article
Objectives : The aim of this study is to review different
clinical presentation and to evaluate types of surgical
procedures and complications in treatment of nonmetastatic breast cancer.
Method : During the period from Jun 1998 to May 2005,
93 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer were
diagnosed and treated surgically in 2 hospitals in Baghdad (
Hammad Shihab military hospital and Al-Kindy teaching
hospital).
Results : Women constituted ( 98.93% ), while men
constituted (1.07%), with male to female ratio of (0.01:1).
The peak incidence of non-metastatic breast cancer (25.8%)
was at age group 51-60 years, while (60.2 % ) of cases
happened in women over 50 years of age. The right breast
was the most common side affected, and the upper outer
quadrant of the breast was the most common location
affected by cancer. Painless lump (91.4%) was the most
common symptom, and the hard lump was the most
common sign (100%).
The highest frequency of cases was diagnosed in stage II
followed by stage III, and invasive ductal cancer was the
most common histopathologic type.
(87.1 %) of patients underwent modified radical
mastectomy, while (12.9%) underwent breast-conservation
surgery. Breast-conservation surgery carried higher
incidence of recurrent disease than modified radical
mastectomy (33.3% vs.13.6%).
Conclusion : The majority of patients with non-metastatic
breast cancer were over 50 years of age, and the
preponderance were diagnosed in stage II. Modified radical
mastectomy may be preferable method for treatment as it
carries a lower rate of local or distant recurrence than
conventional breast-conservation surgery procedures