Descriptive study of breast cancer cases in Goiânia between 1989 and 2003

To describe cases of breast cancer in women living in Goiânia from 1989-2003.

We conducted a retrospective, descriptive stud, which included all cases of breast cancer occurring in residents of Goiânia, identified by the Population-Based Cancer Registry of Goiânia (RCBPGO) in the period from 1989 to 2003. The variables were: age, method of diagnosis, topographic location, morphology and extent of breast cancer. We used frequencies and percentage rates, and Poisson regression to determine the annual percentage change (APC).

We identified 3204 cases of breast cancer. The most frequent topographic location was the superior-lateral quadrant (53.7%). Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most frequent, with 2582 cases (80.6%), followed by infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC), with 155 cases (4.8%). There was a significant increase of both the IDC and the ILC, with APCs of 11.0% and 15.4%, respectively. The ratio between IDC and ILC was not influenced by age (p = 0.98). As for tumor extent at diagnosis, 45.6% were located in the breast, and the APC was 16.1% (CI = 12.4 to 20.0, p <0.001). There was a trend of APC reduction of metastatic cases (-3.8, CI = -8.6 to 1.2, p = 0.12).

The topographical location and histological type of breast cancer in the city of Goiania followed the pattern of other countries. The main morphological types were not influenced by age. There was a large increase in initial cases.