OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize the histopathological patterns of female breast lesions encountered at a secondary level care centre in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia, with special emphasis on multiplicity of benign lesions, their proliferative nature and level of risk for progression. METHODS: In this retrospective, hospital record-based descriptive study, all histopathology records of patients attending King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf, Al Hassa between January 2001 and December 2007, were reviewed using a structured compilation form. Nine and hundred-sixty nine histopathology reports were legible and included. Data regarding type of specimens, age, laterality of the lesions and the prominent cellular morphology were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 969 records reviewed, benign lesions accounted for 60.1%, followed by malignancy (21.4%) and inflammatory lesions (18.5%). Multiple benign lesions were found in 51.1% and more than two lesions in 21.1% of cases. Non-proliferative breast lesions with low risk were reported in 81.4%, intermediate risk lesion without hyperplastic atypia in 14.6%, while high risk lesions with atypia were only 4.0%. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the dominant lesion among the latter and 62.1% of cases were diagnosed before the age of 50 years. CONCLUSION: Benign breast lesion multiplicity is frequent among Saudi female patients; with or without atypia these lesions represent a sizable risk of potential progression to breast cancer. Meticulous follow up with frequent screening may be useful for prevention of cancer development and early intervention in affected patients.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize the histopathological patterns of female breast lesions encountered at a secondary level care centre in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia, with special emphasis on multiplicity of benign lesions, their proliferative nature and level of risk for progression. METHODS: In this retrospective, hospital record-based descriptive study, all histopathology records of patients attending King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf, Al Hassa between January 2001 and December 2007, were reviewed using a structured compilation form. Nine and hundred-sixty nine histopathology reports were legible and included. Data regarding type of specimens, age, laterality of the lesions and the prominent cellular morphology were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 969 records reviewed, benign lesions accounted for 60.1%, followed by malignancy (21.4%) and inflammatory lesions (18.5%). Multiple benign lesions were found in 51.1% and more than two lesions in 21.1% of cases. Non-proliferative breast lesions with low risk were reported in 81.4%, intermediate risk lesion without hyperplastic atypia in 14.6%, while high risk lesions with atypia were only 4.0%. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the dominant lesion among the latter and 62.1% of cases were diagnosed before the age of 50 years. CONCLUSION: Benign breast lesion multiplicity is frequent among Saudi female patients; with or without atypia these lesions represent a sizable risk of potential progression to breast cancer. Meticulous follow up with frequent screening may be useful for prevention of cancer development and early intervention in affected patients.