Pathologic findings of patients with breast cancer in Bandarabbas (southern Iran) during 2002-2010

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cause of Cancer-related death among women. The aim of this study was to assess the pathologic findings of patients with breast cancer who were referred to the pathology ward in Bandarabbas during 2002 to 2010. Methods and Materials: In this descriptive study in 2010, all patients with breast cancer who were referred to the pathology ward of Bandarabbas during 2002 to 2010 were included. Data was obtained using patients’ records in the pathology ward and was collected by using a previously structured checklist including demographics such as age, sex as well as information regarding histology, histology grade, size and location of the tumor. Data was analyzed after collection using SPSS 13.0 for Windows software. Results: Among the patients 73 (92.4%) were female. The mean age of the patients in our study was 52.38±14.27 years. Thirty (44.8%) were infiltrative ductal carcinoma and 26 (38.8%) were invasive ductal carcinoma. Histologic grade I was found in 10 (20.8%) patients, grade II in 24 (50%) and grade III in 14 (29.2%) patients. Skin was involved in 11(13.9%) cases. Vascular and neural involvement was seen in 16 (20.3%) and 6 (7.6%) patients respectively. Regional lymph nodes were involved in 32 (40.5%) of the patients. Far metastasis was seen only in 1 (1.3%) patient. Conclusions: Referral of the patients in late stages of their disease which is associated with vascular, skin and nipple involvement and also regional lymph node involvement indicated a lack of enough knowledge about the disease.