Mastalgia and breast tumour in Nigerian women.

376 Nigerian women who presented with histologically proved breast tumour (256 benign and 120 malignant) were admitted to a study of mastalgia and breast tumour. A total of 67 patients, consisting of 57 (22.3%) of 256 benign disease patients and 10 (8.3%) of 120 malignant disease patient had pain, compared to 199 (77.7%) benign and 110 (91.7%) malignant disease patients who had no pain. Mastalgia was more often associated with benign tumour (57 out of 67 or 85%) than malignant neoplasm (15%). Adenosis was the leading cause of mastalgia (15 of 26 patients). Surgical extirpation of breast tumour achieved total pain relief in 85% of the patients, but adenosis patients were least likely to achieve total pain relief.