Diversity of Breast Carcinoma: Epidemiology and Histological Subtypes in Eastern India

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy among women globally. The aims of our study were to evaluate the diversity and epidemiology of breast cancer on patients admitted in Burdwan Medical College and Hospital for elective mastectomy for carcinoma breast. Materials and methods: All the patients suspected of breast malignancy were clinically evaluated with age>25 years (as breast cancer is common beyond this age) and were included in the study. All the mastectomy specimens sent to Department of Pathology, Burdwan Medical College & Hospital, for histopathological examination were considered in the study. Results: The range of  patients presenting with breast cancer was between 30-65 years, while 29 patients were below the age of 50 years and 17 above it. Maximum nos of case were between 40-49 years. Among the histopathological types of the tumours, IDC NOS constituted 40 cases (86.9%), invasive lobular carcinoma constituted 2 cases (4.3%), medullary carcinoma 2 cases (4.3%), invasive papillary carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma 1 case each (2.2%). T1 (size < 2 cm) was observed in 2 cases (4.3%), T2 (size 2-5 cm) was observed in 10 cases (21.7%). T3 (size > 5cm) was seen in 5 cases (10.9%), T4 (tumour of any size with fixity to the chest wall or skin) was observed in 29 cases (63%). Grading of 42 cases was done and only 1 case (2.4%) of Grade I was seen, whereas 25 cases (59.5%) belonged to Grade II, and 16 cases (38.1%) to Grade III. Out of the 46 cases, Stage IIA constituted 8 cases (17.4%), Stage IIB 3 cases (6.5%), Stage IIIA 6 cases (13%), and Stage IIIB 29 cases (63%). Conclusion: The government needs to urgently strengthen and augment the existing facilities including screening, which is inadequate at present to handle the current breast cancer load in India, especially Eastern India.