Spectrum of breast problems at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital Lahore

Objective: to find out spectrum of breast problems in our hospital where majority patients are from rural areas and they lack awareness of breast cancer. study design: descriptive study place and duration of study: this study was carried out in surgical unit ii at ghurki trust teaching hospital (gtth) from january 2008 to december 2009. patients and methods: all female patients presenting with breast problems were included in the study. male patients with breast problems were excluded. they were diagnosed by detailed history,thorough physical examination of breast and other relevant systems along with appropriate investigations like ultrasonography,mammography,fine needle aspiration cytology,true cut biopsy and excision biopsy according to the clinical findings .a profarma to collect data pertinent to study was filled for each patient. after collecting data results were analyzed. results: total no. of women was 242 who had different types of breast problems. the age ranged from 10 year to 79 year. out of these 242 patients,126 (52%) were seen between the age of 30-49.the benign breast disease was commonest (92%) and among them the commonest condition was non-cyclical mastalgia in 74(31%).the commonest age of presentation of breast cancer was 5 th decade (58%) followed by 4 th decade (21%).majority of the cancer patients presented in stage iii (47%). non-cyclical mastalgia was commonly seen in the 4 th decade (15%) while (12%) patients of fibroadenoma reported in 2 nd decade. fibrocystic disease was reported between 3 rd and 4 th decade (16%). conclusion commonest being condition was non-cyclical mastalgia followed by fibroadenoma. cancer of breast presented in stage iii. so in this area the awareness about cancer is needed so that patients could come early for treatment .