Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2693-4787/026
*Corresponding Author: H. N. Ashikur Rahaman, Registrar, Dept. of Clinical Oncology, Enam Medical College & Hospital, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Citation: H. N. Ashikur Rahaman, (2021) Program Against Cancer in Samoa. J. Clinical Oncology Research and Reports. 2(2) Doi: 10.31579/2693-4787/026
Copyright: © 2021 H. N. Ashikur Rahaman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original author and source are credited.
Received: 26 April 2021 | Accepted: 04 May 2021 | Published: 07 May 2021
Keywords: breast pain; breast cancer; palpable mass; usg findings; axillary lymph nodes
Introduction: Breast pain also known as mastalgia is the dull acne in the breast, cause is multifactorial. It can affect any age group. Breast cancer is the most common site-specific cancer in women and is the leading cause of death from cancer for women aged 20-59 years worldwide. In India, breast cancer has ranked number one cancer among females, with age adjusted incidence as high as 25.8 per 100,000 women and mortality 12.7 per 100,000 women.
Objective: To find out the Clinical and USG Findings of Patients Presented with Breast Pain.
Settings and Design: Prospective cross-sectional descriptive study.
Materials and Methods: Patients with complaints of breast pain in the age group 15 to 60 years with clinically no palpable mass attending to the Dept. of Clinical Oncology, Enam Medical College & Hospital, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh between January 2020 to December 2020 were included in the study. Detailed history with particular reference to age, duration of symptoms, Size, menstruation, marital status, parity, lactation, Nipple discharge and tenderness are recorded. Pain intensity was evaluated as mild, moderate and severe. Ultrasound of the breast including the axilla was done for all cases and findings recorded to correlate with clinical features.
Results: Out of 90 patients studied, majority was in the age group (21-30) years, (43%) followed by (31-40 years) (40%) respectively. 57(63%) were married and 33(43%) were single. 21 patients had 1 child, 18 had 2 children with 6 of them having no children. Out of 90 patients only 3 attained menopause, rest of them have their monthly cycles. 51 patients had cyclical breast pain and 39 had noncyclical breast pain, 39 had pain on right breast, 36 on left side and bilateral in 15 patients. Pain was mild in 15 patients, moderate in 27 patients and severe in 6 patients. Various USG findings of the affected breast were normal study in 48 patients followed by duct ectasia and hetrogenous ectogenicity fibroadenosis, small cystic lesion and enlarged axillary lymph nodes etc.
Conclusion: The study results show that majority of patients with breast pain without clinically palpable lump had normal USG study. But it also detects other early changes in the breast tissue. It can be used as a baseline investigation for any breast pain without palpable lump.
Mastalgia is defined as pain, dull ache, discomfort or heaviness in the breast. It’s commonly experienced by women, present up to 69% of women and can affect any age group. Etiology of breast pain is multifactorial. It may be due to normal cyclical changes in hormone level or due to certain diseases.[1] So, it can be cyclical, non cyclical with peak incidence between (35-45) years.[2] Cyclical hormonal changes are the most common cause of breast pain. Breast cancer is rarely cancer of breast pain according only 1.2-6.7%.[3] Causes of mastalgia without clinical findings of Modularity or lump are still a challenge for diagnosis and management. Ultrasound of the breast is one of the most convenient, painless, and easily available and less costly investigation that can be done in women complaining of breast pain.[4] Breast imaging provides reassurance to the women presenting with breast pain without lump according to Wayne state university study in 2008. [3] The cross sectional study utility of breast imaging in mastalgia by nasreennath. et al[4]. In 2013 showed that Duct ectasia is a major factor in determining the severity of mastalgia with no significance between clinical and non clinical mastalgia. Hence breast imaging helps to identify the underlying pathology.[5]
Patients with complaints of breast pain in the age group 15 to 60 years with clinically no palpable mass attending to the Dept. of Clinical Oncology, Enam Medical College & Hospital, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh between January 2020 to December 2020 were included in the study. This was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study. Detailed history with particular reference to age, duration of symptoms, Size, menstruation, marital status, parity, lactation, Nipple discharge and tenderness are recorded. Pain intensity was evaluated as mild, moderate and severe. Clinical findings with reference to tenderness and quadrants involved are recorded. Then Ultrasound of the affected breast including the axilla was done in all the cases.
Out of 90 patients studied, majority was in the age group (21-30) years, (43%) followed by (31-40 years) (40%) respectively. 57(63%) were married and 33(43%) were single. 21 patients had 1 child, 18 had 2 children with 6 of them having no children. Out of 90 patients only 3 attained menopause, rest of them have their monthly cycles as shown in the table below:
In this study out of 90 patients, 51 (56) patients had cyclical breast pain and 39 (34) had non cyclical breast pain. The pain was on right side in 39 (34) patients, 36 (40) on the left and bilateral in 15 (16) patients. Majority of pain were in right lower outer quadrant (27) and left upper quadrants (18). The intensity of the pain was mild in 57 (65), moderate in 27 (30), and severe in 6 (6), patients according to visual analog scoring (VAS) system.
In the USG examination of the affected breast and axilla are found normal study in 48 (53%) patients, duct ectasia in 12 (13%), multiple small cystic lesions in 9 (10%), fibroadenosis in 9 (10%) patients. Heterogonous ectagenecity with probe tenderness in 4 (4%), Hypoechoeic demarcated nodules 4(4%) and fibroadenosis in 3 (3%) and enlarged axillary lymph node 1 (1%) respectively as shown in the table below:
Those patients with mass lesions were further subjected to FNAC but no malignancy was detected. FNAC of axillary lymph nodes showed non specific reactive Lymphadenitis.
Risk increases by almost 3% for each year older at menopause thus women who have attained menopause at 55 years rather than 45 years, has approximately 30% higher risk. In this study, majority of the women reached menopause after the age of 45 years. Risk of developing breast cancer increased in both pre-and post-menopausal patients who had early onset of menarche and late menopause possibly due to the increase in the duration of hormonal exposure15. In our study more patients were postmenopausal 64% (16 patients) than premenopausal 36% (9 patients). Similar profile can be seen in Karlsso N YA et al series. [6,7] In Sandhu DS et al [8] study 44.27% of the patients were premenopausal and 55.76%. Karlsson YA et al reported 41% premenopausal and 59% postmenopausal. Compared to the west the percentage of premenopausal patients are less in this study. Early age at first full-term pregnancy is inversely related to breast cancer risk.[9] This association perhaps reflects either a pregnancy induced maturation of mammary cells, and thus making them less susceptible to carcinogenic transformation or a long lasting hormonal change or both.[10] In this study, it was found that the majority of the women were at an age younger than 30 during their first pregnancy. However, information regarding the age at last pregnancy was not clear. Late age at last full term pregnancy also has been found to be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, but not in all studies.[11] High parity has generally been associated with low breast cancer risk in previous epidemiological studies. Nulliparity was associated with an overall increased risk of breast cancer. In our study it was found that many women presented with breast cancer despite of high parity.[12]
The study results show that majority of patients with breast pain without clinically palpable lump had normal USG study. But it also detects other early changes in the breast tissue. It can be used as a baseline investigation for any breast pain without palpable lump.
Dear Editorial Team, Clinical Medical Reviews and Reports. My experience with the journal was highly positive. The peer-review process was rigorous, constructive, and completed in a timely manner. The reviewers provided valuable comments that helped improve the quality and clarity of our manuscript. The editorial office was professional, responsive, and supportive throughout all stages of the publication process. Communication was clear and efficient, and any questions were addressed promptly. Overall, I found the journal to maintain high scientific standards and an excellent publication workflow. I would be pleased to consider submitting future work to this journal. Best wishes from, Elena Popa.
It was my pleasure to submit my testimonial concerning the Reviewer Board of our Scientific Journal “Brain and Neurological Disorders”. The Reviewers focused on some modifications and their contribution was helpful. The ladies of our Editorial Office were also supported my efforts. It was my honor to have such a co-operation and I am looking forward for more collaboration.
Dear Grace Pierce, Editorial Coordinator of Journal of Clinical Research and Reports, Thank you for the speedy and efficient peer review process. I appreciate the fact that your peer reviewers do not take months to respond like with some other journals. I would also like to thank the editorial office for responding quickly to my questions. It is an excellent journal. I plan to submit more manuscripts in the future. Best wishes from, Robert W. McGee
Dear Grace Pierce, Editorial Coordinator of Journal of Clinical Research and Reports, Working with you and your team on our recent publication in JCRR has been a truly wonderful and enjoyable experience. The responses were prompt, and the reviewers were patient, constructive, and highly professional. One reviewer in particular gave me the feeling that a professor was carefully reading and commenting on my coursework, which was deeply touching. The entire process was straightforward and hassle‑free, with no tedious online forms to complete. I highly recommend this journal. Best wishes from, DR Aibing Rao, Head of R&D
I Appreciate the Opportunity to Share my Experience with the Journal of Clinical Research and Reports. The peer review process was timely and constructive, and the feedback provided helped improve the quality of our manuscript. The editorial office was professional, responsive, and supportive throughout the process, ensuring smooth communication and efficient handling of the submission. Overall, it was a positive experience collaborating with your team.
Dear Mercy Grace, Editorial Coordinator of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, We would like to express our gratitude for your help at all stages of publishing and editing the article. The editors of the magazine answer all the necessary questions and help at every stage. We will definitely continue to cooperate and publish other works in the Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences! Best wishes from, Alla Konstantinovna Politova,