title: Breast carcinoma in young females below the age of 40 years: A histopathological perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer among young women is a rare pathology, but is known to have a more aggressive behavior and poorer outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma below 40 years in comparison to that over 40 years in Manipur, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study from the period of January 2005-December 2010 was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of mastectomy specimens of carcinoma breast from the period of January 2005-December 2010 were included in the study. Clinical and histopathological data of all cases were reviewed and correlated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 507 mastectomy specimens were received, among which, 160 cases (31.56%) were below 40 years; whereas 347 cases (68.44%) were above 40 years of age. Stage III was the commonest stage (47% versus 18%) in the younger group; while in the older group, Stage II was the commonest (64% versus 34%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that young females with breast cancer have higher stage of tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Shitalmala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thangjam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Laishram
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debnath
keywords: Breast cancer; TNM staging of breast cancer; histopathology; mastectomy; young