Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Breast diseases in women, whether benign or malignant, are very commonly encountered. The pattern of breast diseases varies within countries. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of breast diseases and their association with different variables in women attending breast diseases diagnosing center in Erbil city/Iraq.

MATERIAL & METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted at breast diseases diagnosing center in Erbil city from 1^st of April till 1^st of December /2017. A random sample of 500 women of all age groups and with complete records was recruited. The women were classified according to their final diagnosis into 3 categories: normal, benign and malignant breast disease. The level of significance was <0.05.

RESULTS: Benign breast diseases diagnosed among (63%) women while malignant breast diseases comprised (13.2%).The most common presentation was mastalgia and mass (39.2%), mastalgia (37.6%), and mass alone (23.2%). Fibro-adenoma (26.2%) was the commonest benign condition with highest incidence (76.9%) in age group less than 20 years. Malignant breast diseases were increasing with age. Benign breast disease associated (p <0.001) with Nulliparity. Breast cancer reported (p <0.001) more among lactating women.

CONCLUSIONS: Benign conditions are the most common diagnosis affecting mainly younger women. Breast cancer though diagnosed less frequently and affecting older age groups, yet its seriousness mandating a thorough assessment of women of different presentations especially that of mass alone or with mastalgia.

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