Histopathological features of breast cancer in Al-Madinah region of Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES To observe the frequency of breast cancer among Saudi patients and to highlight the age variations and features of advanced cancer. METHODS A retrospective study of breast cancer biopsies from all Saudi patients performed between January 2006 and December 2013 in King Fahad Hospital, Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All the available demographic and tumor related data was analyzed. RESULTS Of 1005 breast tissues reviewed, 982 specimens were from female, and 23 from male patients. In females, 398 specimens (40.5%) were diagnosed as malignant. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (85.2%) was most common, followed by ductal carcinoma in situ (8%), and invasive lobular carcinoma (2.7%). The mean age of Saudi females with IDC was 46.9 years. Approximately 48.7% IDC were Grade III tumors. A tumor size >2.5 cm  was found in 61.1% patients, whereas axillary nodal metastasis was present in 57.1% and lympho-vascular invasion in 64.1% who underwent axillary nodal dissection. In males, 4 specimens (17.4%) were malignant (all IDC). CONCLUSION Our finding are consistent with previous reports of breast cancer being diagnosed in younger age group, in advanced stages, and with features of aggressive behavior; which signals the urgency for implementation of breast screening programs.