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Breast masses in young women
1Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Breast cancer is rare in patients under 20. Carcinoma incidence rises significantly after age 25, suggesting a lower threshold for excisional biopsy in older young women.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Public Health
Background:
- Breast cancer risk assessment in young women requires precise data.
- Previous studies indicate breast carcinoma is uncommon in very young patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define breast cancer risk in patients under 40 years old.
- To evaluate the incidence of carcinoma based on age at biopsy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of breast biopsies.
- Data collected from Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta (1981-1987).
- Analysis of 751 biopsies in women aged 9-40 years.
Main Results:
- No carcinoma found in patients aged 20 or younger.
- Two cases of carcinoma identified in 150 patients aged 21-25.
- Carcinoma incidence increased with age, reaching 24.4% in the 36-40 age group.
Conclusions:
- Breast cancer is unusual in patients under 20.
- Breast masses in patients under 20 should be managed conservatively.
- Increasing age correlates with higher carcinoma incidence, warranting a decreased threshold for excisional biopsy.