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BREAST CANCER RISK IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST PAIN IN ACCRA, GHANA
Abstract
Objective: To determine the risk of breast cancer in patients presenting with breast pain in Accra,
Ghana.
Design: Retrospective clinical study.
Setting: A self-referral breast clinic in Accra, Ghana.
Subjects: Patients with breast pain as a presenting complaint, between January 2001 and December
2005.
Interventions: Patients were investigated by triple assessment.
Results: There were 447 patients with pain, 322 as the only symptom and 125 in addition to other
symptoms like breast lump and nipple discharge. Patients with pain only were found to have no
detectable abnormality 203 (63%) and fibroadenosis 78 (24.2%) as the most common diagnoses.
Breast cancer was found in four (1.24%) of them, all of whom had abnormality on clinical breast
examination. In patients with pain as well as other symptoms the common diagnoses were
fibroadenosis 25 (20%), breast cancer 20 (16%) and normal 18 (14.4%).
Conclusion: The risk of breast cancer is significantly higher in patients presenting with breast pain
in addition to other symptoms, compared to patients with breast pain as the only symptom (16%
and 1.24% respectively P<0.0001). Patients with breast pain should always have breast examination
and not simply reassured. Women should be encouraged to do breast self examination.
Ghana.
Design: Retrospective clinical study.
Setting: A self-referral breast clinic in Accra, Ghana.
Subjects: Patients with breast pain as a presenting complaint, between January 2001 and December
2005.
Interventions: Patients were investigated by triple assessment.
Results: There were 447 patients with pain, 322 as the only symptom and 125 in addition to other
symptoms like breast lump and nipple discharge. Patients with pain only were found to have no
detectable abnormality 203 (63%) and fibroadenosis 78 (24.2%) as the most common diagnoses.
Breast cancer was found in four (1.24%) of them, all of whom had abnormality on clinical breast
examination. In patients with pain as well as other symptoms the common diagnoses were
fibroadenosis 25 (20%), breast cancer 20 (16%) and normal 18 (14.4%).
Conclusion: The risk of breast cancer is significantly higher in patients presenting with breast pain
in addition to other symptoms, compared to patients with breast pain as the only symptom (16%
and 1.24% respectively P<0.0001). Patients with breast pain should always have breast examination
and not simply reassured. Women should be encouraged to do breast self examination.
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