Prevalence of breast cancer in women with breast complaints. Retrospective analysis in a population of symptomatic patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to analyze whether any correlation exists between breast complaints and the risk of having or developing breast cancer (BC) in a population of self-selected women.


METHODS
A series of 2,561 patients was reviewed. Three age-groups were sorted out: Group A (40 years old or younger, 45.9%), Group B (41-55 years, 27.8%), and Group C (> 55 years, 26.3%). Breast pain was most common (61.0%) in Group A, and breast lump in Group C (87.8%).


RESULTS
BC was found in 271 (10.6%) patients. Breast pain was more frequent in patients without cancer with respect to patients with BC, both in Group B (45.8% vs. 27.9%; p = 0.039) and in Group C (9.2% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.003), but no correlation (p = NS) between BC and breast lump or nipple discharge was found in any Group. Over a median follow-up of 74 months (range 23-146 months). BC arose in 10 (0.44%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the women with breast complaints did not have BC, and their risk of cancer onset was not dissimilar to that reported for the general population.
Lumachi
Franco
F
Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. flumachi@unipd.it
Ermani
Mario
M
Brandes
Alba A
AA
Basso
Stefano M M
SM
Vastola
Francesca
F
Lonardi
Sara
S
Boccagni
Patrizia
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors