Pattern of breast disease in Ghana

Abstract

A study of breast diseases as seen at a surgical clinic in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) over a period of 12 months is presented. There were 300 patients, 295 women and 5 men with a mean age of 33.6 years. Benign breast disorders were present in all groups but were commoner in the younger age groups. Lumps were more common in the upper lateral quadrants. Fibroadenosis, 100(33.3%), was found to be the commonest breast disorder among Ghanaian women. Mastitis/breast abscess, 56( 18.7%), was the second most common breast disease affecting mainly nursing mothers. Fibroadenoma constituted 16.3% (52/300) of cases and was the third most common lesion. Nearly 47% of 47 patients with breast carcinoma presented with stages III and IV disease. Male breast disorders were relatively uncommon and constituted 1.7%(5/300) of breast diseases. Thus, the pattern of breast diseases in Ghana contrasts those of other places where fibroadenoma is reported to be the commonest breast diseases. The incidence of breast carcinoma is increasing in Ghana but many patients present late. Efforts must therefore be directed at public education as well as research into the epidemiology and outcome of breast carcinoma in Ghana.