Breast masses: A histological review of 3,560 cases.

ABSTRACT

A histological review was made of 3,560 cases of breast masses in the Department of Pathology, Siriraj Hospital during the period of January, 1978 to December, 1980. The diagnosis of lesions was based on internationally accepted WHO’s classification of breast tumours. Benign lesions were found in 3,036 cases (85.28 percent) and malignant disease in 524 cases (14.72 percnet). Fibrocystic diseases. Less in order of frequency were fibroadenoma (34.32 percent), female carcinoma (14.18 percent) and gynaecomastia (6.80 percent). In the age group between 10 to 30 years, the most common lesion was fibroadenoma which was found in 50 percent of this group. In the age group between 31 to 50 years, fibrocystic disease was the most frequent disease; it comprised 49 percent of this group. Carcinoma of the female breast was the most common condition in the age group over 50 years; it was comprised 58 percent of the cases. The most common type of carcinoma was invasive ductal carcinoma which comprised 83 percent of the cases. The average age of the patients having fibroadenoma, fibrocystic disease and female carcinoma was 25, 33 and 50 years respectively. Gynaecomastia was the most common lesion in male breast; it comprised 93 percent of breast masses in males. Male breast carcinoma was rare and it occurred at a later age than carcinoma of the female breast.