Histopathological types of breast cancer in Nigerian women: a 12-year review (1993-2004).

To determine the commonest histological types of breast cancer in Nigerian women in Edo State and the mean age at diagnosis, we reviewed the histological slides of breast cancer received in the pathology department of University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a twelve-year period (January 1993-December 2004). The clinical data was obtained from the original request form and case notes where necessary. The mean age of the patients was 45.7 (SD= 13.4, SEM = 0.7). Invasive ductal carcinoma (not otherwise specified) constituted the majority of breast cancer accounting for 75.5% while papillary carcinoma was the least common (2.7%). Ductal carcinoma in situ accounted for 6.6%. Breast cancer occur more on the left (53.3%) than the right (45.7%). Bilateral breast cancer was found in only 0.8% of the cases. The frequency of invasive breast cancer is still very high among Nigerian women. Late presentation possibly due to ignorance, alternative medicine and fear of surgery may account for this high prevalence.