STUDY OF BREAST PARENCHYMATOUS CHANGES AND BREAST CYSTFLUID PATTERN IN FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE AS CANCER RISK PREDICTORS

Abstract

Gross cystic breast disease is a benign disorder of the human breast that has been reported to affect about 7% of women in Western countries, with the highest incidence occuring in women in their premenopausal decade: Although gross cystic breast disease is not considered a premalignant lesion per se, epidemiological studies indicate that women affected by gross cystic breast disease are at greater risk of developing breast cancer than nondiseased females, however this is the subject of great debate. In recent years, novel approaches to this issue have been offered by studies in the composition of the breast cyst fluid e.g. Na/K ratio in an attempt to understand the mechanisms of cystic disease initiation and progression and its relationship to carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relation between breast parenchymatous patterns and cysts fluid type in gross cystic breast disease as predictors for breast cancer risks. The present work was carried on 55 female patients with gross cystic disease of the breast admitted to the general surgery department in Alexandria Main University Hospital. All patients were subjected to routine laboratory investigations mammography and ultrasonography of both breasts, aspiration of cysts fluid and its biochemical analysis to determine Na/K ratio followed by excision biopsy to be studied histopathologically.