Fibro-adenoma of the breast in Nigerian Igbos.
BACKGROUND
There has been a recent increase in interest in conservative treatment of benign disease.


OBJECTIVE
To study the epidemiology, clinical features and management of fibro-adenoma of the breast in Nigerian Igbos.


METHODS
Patients with breast disease presenting to the author at four Nigerian hospitals between 1986 and 1997 were enrolled in a prospective study.


RESULTS
Patients with breast disease constituted a significant burden in general surgical practices, with fibro-adenoma present in 94 out of 284 patients with benign disease (33%) and 410 patients with breast disease (23%). The accuracy of clinical pre-operative diagnosis is excellent, especially in those aged under 25 years. Conservative treatment may be advisable for these patients if they can be kept under observation. Other worrisome discoveries include a high rate of teenage abortion and a significant delay in seeking medical help that has not reduced when compared with a previous study undertaken 30 years ago.
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
S N
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Anyanwu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies