Breast cancer in the elderly: histological, hormonal and surgical characteristics.
The characteristics, menstrual risk factors and surgical therapy of 187 consecutive patients more than 70 years of age (mean: 75.9) were investigated and compared with those of 609 patients less than 70 years of age (mean: 53.9). There was no difference in stage, size, state of axillary nodes, grade, histological types, Ki-67, vascular invasion, estrogen receptor rate, and HER-2/neu (+) rate. Positive progesterone receptor rate was higher in older patients (54.7% vs. 63.1%). Tumors were larger (p=0.01) and their stage higher (p=0.014) in patients more than 80 years of age. All menstrual risk factors were similar in the two groups. Positive familial history was more frequent in patients <60 years. Significantly more young patients used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (21.8 vs. 8.6%). Older patients underwent less breast-conserving surgery (36.1 vs. 55.1%), and less axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) (69.7 vs. 84.9%). We conclude that breast cancer characteristics and menstrual risk factors are similar in the two age groups.
Pappo
I
I
Comprehensive Breast Care Institute, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. pappo@zahav.net.il
Karni
T
T
Sandbank
J
J
Dinur
I
I
Sella
A
A
Stahl-Kent
V
V
Wasserman
I
I
Halevy
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008572:Menarche; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors