Breast diseases in Southern Yemen

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the magnitude of breast diseases, and its frequency distribution in different age groups in Hadramout, Yemen.

METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted at the Central Laboratory of Ibn-Sinna Hospital, Hadramout, Yemen from January 2006 to December 2009. Patients attending surgical units for breast problems were eligible. Patients were assessed clinically and referred to the laboratory center to confirm the diagnosis by histopathology. The data were collected from the patients and referral sheets.

RESULTS: A total of 635 cases of breast disease were diagnosed. This includes 604 female and 31 male patients. Benign breast diseases (BBD) was the most common lesion found in this study comprising 493 cases (77.6%), and 142 (22.4%) comprised malignant cases. Among BBD, the most common lesion was fibroadenoma (40.5%) followed by fibrocystic changes (16%), other benign breast lesions (10%), and inflammatory lesion (8%). The age groups affected by BBD were: 20-29 years for fibroadenoma; 30-39 years for fibrocystic change; 20-29 years for other benign breast lesions; and 30-39 for inflammatory lesions, and carcinoma of the breast was common in the 40-49 age group. The left breast was affected in 331 (52%) cases, the right in 283 (45%), while in 3%, both breasts were affected.

CONCLUSION: Fibroadenoma was the most frequently diagnosed benign breast lesion in Hadramout. An educational program is needed to alert patients of the significance of breast masses.