Our experience with breast carcinoma in Sri Lankan women- a single unit experience.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed life-threatening cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. There is no national breast cancer screening programme yet in Sri Lanka. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of breast cancer registry from 1999 to 2010 at the University Surgical Unit NCTH, was carried out. Presentation, tumour site, practise of self-breast examination (SBE), histology and risk factors were assessed. RESULTS: Study sample consisted of 110 women (mean age =52.6 years). 40.9% presented with accidental finding of a breast lump, 20% with breast pain, 6% with nipple discharge and 74.5% had never practiced SBE. Those who did not practice SBE (77.2 % ) had either T3 or T4 disease. Majority of tumours appeared in the upper outer quadrant -59.1% (upper medial 19.1 % lower outer 16.4%. ) with tumour size varying from 2-5 cm in 54.5% ( 5-10 cm - 30.1% and < 2 cm - 10.1%). The infiltrating duct carcinoma (79.1%) invasive lobular carcinoma (7.3%) and duct carcinoma in situ (5.5%) are the commonest histological types. Fine needle aspiration (FNAC) revealed duct carcinoma in 83.1% women. They showed 16.4% nulliparous and 20% were taking oral contraceptive pills for more than 5 years. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that most common histological type was infiltrating duct carcinoma and FNAC has a satisfactory correlation with final pathological diagnosis. The women who did not practise SBE had advanced breast carcinoma. public awareness and improved screening will lead to early diagnosis.