Pattern of breast disease in Ghana
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2000-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ghana Medical Journal
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.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Breast cancer, fibroadenoma, mastitis/breast abscess