Histopathological profile of breast cancer at a tertiary hospital in Malawi: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Alfred Kayira, Master R.O. Chisale, Frank W. Sinyiza, Chikondi S. Chimbatata, Paul U. Kaseka, Pocha S. Kamudumuli, Joseph Wu, Balwani C. Mbakaya

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the major public health problem in developing countries. In Malawi, cancer of the breast among females is among the top four accounting for 4.9%. The study determined the histopathologic profile of breast cancer in Northern Malawi from July 2013 to June 2018. A record based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Mzuzu Central Hospital. We reviewed 202 histopathological results of breast specimens during the study period. Data was analyzed using STATA version 14.0. Out of 202 clinically diagnosed breast lesions/tumours, 102 (50.5%) were histopathologically confirmed cancerous in nature, and 100 (49.5%) were non-cancerous. Ductal carcinoma was the leading histologic presentation with 68 cases representing 66.7%. Participants in the age group of 70-89 years were 13 times more likely to develop breast cancer (OR 12.66; P-value = 0.001; 95% CI 2.79 - 57.46), compared to those in the age group 10-29 years. The magnitude of breast cancer in Mzuzu Central Hospital, Northern Malawi is alarming (50.5%). Policy makers should emphasise on awareness campaigns for early and routine breast screening, early diagnosis and early treatment. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[1]: 76-80).

Full Text:

PDF

References

Kene TS, Odigie VI, Yusufu LMD, Yusuf BO, Shehu

SM and Kase JT. Pattern of presentation and survival of breast cancer in a teaching hospital in North Western Nigeria. Oman Med J 2010; 25 (2): 104 – 107.

Sharma GN, Dave R, Sanadya J, Sharma P and Sharma

KK. Various types and management of breast cancer: an overview. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2010;1(2):109-126.

Ly M, Antoine M, André F, Callard P, Bernaudin JF and

Diallo DA. Le cancer du sein chez la femme de l'Afrique sub-saharienne: état actuel des connaissances [Breast cancer in Sub-Saharan African women: review]. Bull Cancer. 2011;98(7):797-806. doi:10.1684/bdc.2011.1392

Elgaili EM, Abuidris DO, Rahman M, Michalek AM

and Mohammed SI. Breast cancer burden in central Sudan. Int J Womens Health. 2010;2:77-82. Published 2010 Aug 9. doi:10.2147/ijwh.s8447

Balekouzou A, Yin P, Pamatika CM, Bishwajit G,

Nambei SW, Djeintote M, Ouansaba BE, Shu C, Yin M, Fu Z, Qing T, Yan M, Chen Y, Li H, Xu Z and Koffi B. Epidemiology of breast cancer: retrospective study in the Central African Republic. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):1230. Published 2016 Dec 7. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3863-6.

Fletcher SW. Patient information: Risk factor for breast

cancer. http://www.utdol.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~_rZvVFHbEjbw . [Accessed 5 January 2020]

Jerônimo AFA, Freitas AGQ and Weller M. Risk factors

of breast cancer and knowledge about the disease: an integrative revision of Latin American studies. DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232017221.09272015 [accessed 3 January 2020]

Lucas AO and Gilles HM. Non – Communicable

Disease: Health in Transition. In short Textbook of Public Health Medicine for the tropics. International Students Edition. Arnold publishers. 2003 pp: 237 – 259.

Msyamboza KP, Manda G, Tembo B, Thambo C,

Chitete L, Mindiera C, Finch LC and Hamling K. Cancer survival in Malawi: a retrospective cohort study. Pan Afr Med J. 2014;19:234. Published 2014 Oct 31. doi:10.11604/pamj.2014.19.234.4675

Ngwogu KO, Offiah SAU, Ngwogu AC, Ndubuka GIN

and Ekperi O. Prevalence and histopathological pattern of breast cancer among patients at Abia state university teaching hospital, aba, south eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Basic, Applied and Innovative Research IJBAIR, 2017, 6(4): 100 – 106

Kohler RE, Moses A, Krysiak R, Liomba NG and Gopal

S. Pathologically confirmed breast cancer in Malawi: a descriptive study: Clinical profile of breast cancer. Malawi Med J. 2015;27(1):10-12. doi:10.4314/mmj.v27i1.3

Ozmen V, Ozcinar B, Karanlik H, Cabioglu N,

Tukenmez M, Disci R, Ozmen T, Igci A, Muslumanoglu M, Kecer M and Soran A. Breast cancer risk factors in Turkish women--a University Hospital based nested case control study. World J Surg Oncol. 2009;7:37. Published 2009 Apr 8. doi:10.1186/1477-7819-7-37.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.