IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 15, Issue 2 Ver. XII (Feb. 2016), PP 60-62 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-152126062 www.iosrjournals.org 60 | Page Spectrum of Breast Diseases Following a Population Based Breast Cancer Survey A .F. Ale 1 , K.N. Ozoilo 1 M.W. Isichei 1 , E.B. Etuk 2 , M.A. Misauno 1 1 Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital ,Nigeria 2 Department of Surgery ,University of Uyo Teaching Hospital,Nigeria Abstract: Breast diseases constitute a wide spectrum of disorders and the pattern varies across countries and ethnic groups. A diagnosis of breast cancer is usually associated with anxiety among women, with the result that those who actually have it, present late leading to increased adverse outcome. Most studies on breast disease spectrum in our environment are hospital based. We therefore sought to establish the true pattern of breast diseases from our community based survey. This was a cross sectional prospective study of all women who presented for breast cancer screening between May 2009 and April 2010 at the Taimako Breast and Cervical Screening Centre, Lafia. All lumps discovered were subjected to biopsy and specimens were obtained either by needle core or following lumpectomy. All data was entered into a questionnaire and analysed using Epi info 3:5:1 software. There were two thousand and eighty five subjects who presented for screening over the period. All were females. The mean age was 34 + 12 years with an age range of 12 to 90 years. 1900 had normal breast screening while abnormalities were detected in 185 (8.9%). Of the abnormal findings, 156 (84.3%) were benign while 29 (15.7%) were malignant. Fibroadenoma was the most frequent diagnosis in 33 (17.8%) subjects. The mean age of those with fibroadenoma was 24.6 + 7.1 years, that of patients with breast cancer was 47.1 + 16.4 years while that of paitents with mastitis was 28.4 + 7.9 years. Majority of subjects who presented for screening did not have any breast disease. Of those with breast diseases, majority were benign, with fibroadenoma being the most common breast disease even though breast diseases encompassed a wide spectrum of disorders. Keywords: Breast disease, Benign breast disease, Breast cancer, Common, Fibroadenoma I. Introduction Breast diseases constitute a significant proportion of surgical cases seen in both developing and developed countries making the breast one of the most commonly biopsied tissues currently(1). There is a rising trend in breast diseases worldwide, with an annual incidence of 200, 000 (2). A wide variation exist in the spectrum of breast diseases and the epidemiology of breast cancer across various countries or ethnic groups (3).Broadly speaking breast diseases may be categorized as benign or malignant. Benign breast diseases (BBD) as a group are more common than malignant disorders accounting for 90% of breast lesions worldwide (1). Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy of women in western countries and second most common in developing countries after cervical cancer (5) Breast cancer is also the most common cause of cancer mortality in women (6). Most of the studies on spectrum of breast diseases in our environment are hospital based. In developing countries financial constraints prevent patients from presenting to the hospital and therefore hospital based studies may not reflect the true incidence and pattern of breast diseases.We therefore sought to conduct a community based survey of breast diseases using a community based breast cancer screening program. II. Subjects and methods This was a cross sectional study conducted between May 2009 and April 2010 at the Taimako Breast and cervical cancer screening centre, Lafia, Nassarawa State, North central Nigeria. Women of all age groups who presented to our centre following an initial community mobilization and sensitization on breast cancer were the subjects of our study. Informed written consent was taken from the subjects to participate in the study. The study was approved by the health and ethics committee of the Jos University Teaching Hospital. A structured questionnaire was administered to all women who presented to the screening centre to obtain demographic data, following which patients were subjected to triple assessment. All subjects had a clinical breast Examination (CBE) Those below 35 years of age had ultrasound examination of the breast while those above 35 had mammography. Where a lump was found clinically or by imaging it was subjected to biopsy. All specimen were subjected to histology. All the data was entered and analyzed on the Epi info 3:5.1 software. Frequency and percentage were evaluated for categorical data. Mean and standard deviation were evaluated for continuous data.