title: Clinicopathological characteristics of synchronous bilateral breast carcinomas. Report of 30 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the clinicopathologic characteristics; incidence and prognosis value of synchronous bilateral breast carcinoma (SBBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study done in Salah Azaiz Institute of Tunis about 30 patients with synchronous bilateral breast carcinomas diagnosed and treated over a 21-years period going from 1977 to 1997. The definition of synchronous breast lesions is the developpement of the contralateral breast cancer within 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age was 49 years. The incidence of SBBC was 0.52%. History family was noted in 3% of our population. Mean tumor size was 40 mm (15-145). Breast conserving therapy was done in 16% of cases (9 patients). Five-year overall survival was 40%. Five year survival rates were 72 and 17% for stage II and III, respectively. Main prognostic factors for survival were lymph node involvement (P=0.004) and disease stage (P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Synchronous bilateral breast carcinoma is a rare entity, with a problem of definition concerning the delay of bilaterlisation. Their prognosis is similar to that of unilateral breast carcinoma patients of equal stage. Hence, breast conserving therapy can be used s fely if indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of surgical oncology, Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ben Hassouna
authors.forename: Tarak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Damak
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chargui
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slimene
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chkir
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ayadi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mtallah
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hechiche
authors.forename: Amor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamoudi
authors.forename: Fethi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khomsi
authors.forename: Tarak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ben Dhiab
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rahal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies