[Management of breast cancers detected by screening mammography program of L'Ariana state in Tunisia]

ABSTRACT

To report the epidemiological and anatomoclinical features of breast cancers referred to a department of gynecology from the screening program of l'Ariana state in Tunisia. A longitudinal retrospective Study was done over a period of 4 years [2004 - 2006] at the Unit "A' gynecology department of the maternity of Tunis. We collected all the cases with histologically confirmed breast cancer diagnosed within the mammography screening program of l'Ariana state, referred to our unit for treatment. 10 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer were collected during the study period, treated at our unit. Mean age of patients was of 48.8 years. Clinical examination was initially negative in 50% of cases. Mean clinical tumor size was 18 mm, while invasive ductual carcinoma represents the most frequent histological type. One patient [10%] had histological axillary involvement. Conservative surgery was performed for 8 [80%] of the 10 patients. This pilot study of mammography screening confined to a Tunisian state, precludes to the future profile of BC In Tunisia, showing that an early diagnosis can lead to a dramatic reduction of mean clinical tumor size, less histological poor prognostic features, more conservative surgery and a slight improvement of survival. A structured extended screening program must be installed to achieve these goals but requires an important financial and human investment