Incidence of malignancy in females presenting with breast lumps in OPD: a study of 277 cases

Objective: To find the incidence of malignancy in females presenting with breast lumps in surgical out patient and to find out the age related incidence of benign and malignant diseases in these patients. Patients and Methods: All cases reporting to surgical outdoor with breast lumps were included and underwent investigation for the breast lumps to determine the histopathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 277 cases were studied. 24.2% breast lumps were malignant and 75.8% were benign. The incidence of malignancy increases from 0% in 2nd decade to 38.9% in 5th and 100% in 9th decade of life. The probability of diagnosing a breast lump as a malignant is one in three in 4th decade, two in five in 5th decade and more than one in two there after. Fibrocystic disease (33.8%) and Fibro adenoma (27.1%) was the commonest finding among the benign lumps. Among malignant lumps infiltrating duct carcinoma (68.7%) is the commonest finding. Conclusion: There is a significantly high incidence of malignant breast lumps after the 3rd decade of life and it increases subsequently. It is recommended that the surgeon managing a case of breast lump in a patient above 30 years should be highly suspicious and cautious so that early detection and management of malignant lumps be carried out. (author)