ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer mortality is high in Sudan and most patients are detected at later stages of the disease due to the lack of awareness and absence of screening programs. This study aimed to determine the pattern and frequency of breast cancer among patients presenting with palpable breast lumps within one year duration. Settings and Design: As a part of the continuous development in cancer management, this descriptive longitudinal study was conducted in Khartoum, Sudan. Methods and Materials: We obtained information (patient's personal data) and Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) materials, for occurrence of 200 breast lesions in patients. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed by using a computer SPSS program. Results: The diagnoses of the 200 breast lesions were as follows: 68 (34%) were malignant, 56 cases (28%) were fibroadenoma, 23 cases (11.5%) were fibrocystic change, 22 cases (11%) were inflammatory lesions (including mastitis and abscess formation), 12 cases (6%) were benign cysts and the remaining 19 patients (9.5%) were with lactation changes (8 cases), lipoma (6 cases), gynecomastia (3 cases) and phyllodes tumor (2 cases). Regarding gender, only 6 patients (0.03%) were males of whom 3 (50%) were diagnosed with gynecomastia. Conclusions: The frequency of advanced breast cancer among patients with breast lesions is high, in this subset of patients, which signals the urgency for implementation of breast screening programs.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Breast Diseases/diagnosis , Breast Diseases/epidemiology , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Breast Neoplasms, Male/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms, Male/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Sudan/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Background: The potential problems related to the use of formalin in histopathology; such as health hazards; deterioration of nuclei acids are well-known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of a Carnoy's solution fixation in comparison with formalin on subsequent tissue sectioning and histochemical staining. Materials and Methods: Corresponding sections of 25 tissue biopsies of rabbit's different organs were fixed in Carnoy's solution and in 10neutral buffered formalin. Samples were processed using the conventional method and then stained applying five histochemical methods. The degree of the quality of the staining was assessed for each method by scoring system (1-10) depending on comparison of the stained tissue sections with illustrated photomicrographs. Results: For the quality of cutting; the best quality was obtained by Formalin (mean = 4.76) then Carnoy's fixative (mean =3.84). The best quality of Haematoxylin and Eosin staining was obtained by formalin (mean =5.28) then Carnoy's (mean = 4.00). For Alcian blue and Perl's Prussian blue; the best staining qualities were obtained by Formalin (mean = 4.76 and 5.64 respectively) followed by Carnoy's (mean = 2.88 and 3.92 respectively). For periodic Acid Schiff's the best staining quality was obtained following Carnoy's fixation (mean = 4.52) then; the formalin (mean = 3.76). Conclusion: Although; Carnoy's fluid is a safe fixative and can rapidly penetrate the tissues; but it can't be a substitute for formalin
Subject(s)
Histocytochemistry , TissuesABSTRACT
Objectives: Early detection of cancer comprises early diagnosis in symptomatic and screening of asymptomatic individuals.Our aim was to evaluate the significant values of carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and/or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in women with breast cancer.Design and setting: This case control study was conducted in Khartoum Teaching Hospital; Khartoum; Sudan. Application of such measurement may be helpful within screening and early detection efforts in such a country like Sudan with poor resources.Methods: We examined by serological radioimmuno-assay methods; significant elevation of CA15-3 and CEA serum samples obtained from 100 women of whom 40and 35were patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and benign breast lumps respectively and the remaining 25were apparently healthy controls. Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed by using a computer SPSS program.Results: Among the 75 patients with breast lumps; 33 (44) and 31(37.3) showed high CA15-3 and CEA levels respectively. Of the 40 carcinomas; high expressions of CA15-3 and CEA were found among 28(70) and 24(60) respectively. Notably; only 2(8) of the controls showed lightly elevated CEA. Conclusions: The obtained Specificity of 85.7; 80and sensitivity of 70; 60for CA15-3 and CEA correspondingly; support the combined application of both markers in screening for breast cancer