Early breast cancer in females presenting with palpable breast lumps

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of early breast cancer in women presenting with palpable breast lumps. Prospective cohort study. Surgical Unit - IV Civil Hospital Karachi, from December 2011 to June 2012. All female patients 13 year and above with palpable breast lumps were recruited in this study after seeking their consent. Triple assessment was carried out and core biopsies taken. Histopathology reports were recorded. Two hundred and eighty two females between 15 to 80 year [mean= 36.5 year] presented with breast lumps. Of the total 72% [n=199] lumps were benign on histopathology while 29% [n=83] showed malignancy. There were 19 [7%] cases of breast abscess. The frequency of breast cancer was 29% in present group of patients presenting with breast lumps