Breast cancer in the young.

Breast cancer in the young is rare. Some cases can be treated with modest surgical intervention and prognosis is good. We present a report of a 17-year-old black girl with adenocarcinoma of the breast. In our case, the disease pursued a devastatingly rapid course in spite of treatment and the patient died within 6 months of diagnosis. The literature relating to clinical experience with various types of breast carcinoma seen in pre- and postpubertal patients is also reviewed. We conclude that this case, and certain other cases cited, demonstrates the need for a high index of suspicion and earlier and more aggressive intervention in young patients with axillary breast masses.