Prevalence of breast cancer in women with breast complaints. Retrospective analysis in a population of symptomatic patients

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyze whether any correlation exists between breast complaints and the risk of having or developing breast cancer (BC) in a population of self-selected women. Patients and Methods: A series of 2,561 patients was reviewed. Three age-groups were sorted out: Group A (40 years old or younger, 45.9%), Group B (41-55 years, 27.8%), and Group C (>55 years, 26.3%). Breast pain was most common (61.0%) in Group A, and breast lump in Group C (87.8%). Results: BC was found in 271 (10.6%) patients. Breast pain was more frequent in patients without cancer with respect to patients with BC, both in Group B (45.8% vs. 27.9%; p=0.039) and in Group C (9.2% vs. 1.7%; p=0.003), but no correlation (p=NS) between BC and breast lump or nipple discharge was found in any Group. Over a median follow-up of 74 months (range 23-146 months), BC arose in 10 (0.44%) patients. Conclusion: The majority of the women with breast complaints did not have BC, and their risk of cancer onset was not dissimilar to that reported for the general population.