[Clinicopathological characteristics of synchronous bilateral breast carcinomas. Report of 30 patients]

The objective of this study is to determine the clinicopathologic characteristics; incidence and prognosis value of synchronous bilateral breast carcinoma [SBBC]. 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 development of the contralateral breast cancer within 6 months. 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]. 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 safely if indicated

Breast carcinoma arising within fibroadenomas. Report of four observations

Fibroadenoma is a frequent benign breast tumor affecting young woman. The incidence of a carcinoma within adenofibromas is estimated at 0,1 to 0,3%

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with breast carcinoma arising within adenofibroma and to determine the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of this rare entity

Observations: We retrospectively report on four cases of carcinomas arising in mammary fibroadenomas

The mean age was 41 years [26-53]. In two cases, fibroadenomas was complex, containing cysts, adenosis and apocrine metaplasia. The adjacent parenchyma contained fibrocystic dystrophy lesions associated in one case to intralobular neoplasia lesions. The treatment consisted of a conservative treatment in two cases and a mastectomy plus axillary node dissection in the two others. Radiotherapy was indicated in all cases and chemotherapy done in three cases. All patients are alive with a mean follow up of 4.25 years [3-7] without any sign of recurrence

Conclusion: Every benign mammary nodule must necessarily be verified surgically to avoid misdiagnosing any carcinomatous area because at this stage its prognosis is better