Histomorphological Changes in Breast Lesions: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background Breast lesions can occur in individuals of all age groups and may include a range of conditions, from benign abnormalities to malignant tumors. Among these, breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Methods used to diagnose breast lesions include histopathology studies and flow cytometry DNA analysis. Some lesions, like cellular fibroadenoma and benign phyllodes tumors, are difficult to differentiate from each other. As their treatment modalities differ from each other, it is important to manage the condition with care. This study emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment of various breast conditions to ensure the best possible outcome for patients. Objective To retrospectively analyze the histopathological patterns of breast lesions, along with their demographic and clinical characteristics, among patients presenting to a specialty hospital over a 5-year period. Methods A retrospective study was conducted by including the breast biopsy, mastectomy, and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) reports of all patients who presented with various breast lesions at Terna Speciality Hospital and research center during the period of January 2017 to December 2022. Various demographic and clinical information was gathered through the histopathology request forms and registry. The authors also looked at histopathology slides of various instances that occurred during the research period. Results The mean age of diagnosis of various breast lesions was found to be 34.18 (SD +/- 14.92). 83% of lesions presented at less than 50 years of age and 17% at more than 50 years. 97% of the total lesions studied were found among the female population. 98% of all lesions presented with a palpable mass, out of which most (64%) lesions were between 1 and 5 cm in size. The majority of the lesions (45.9%) were right-sided, and only 7.2% were bilateral. Most of the lesions studied presented in the upper outer quadrant. Most of the benign and inflammatory lesions studied presented in individuals aged 21-30 years, and malignant lesions were found predominantly among individuals aged 61-70 years. No inflammatory lesions were found beyond the age of 60 years, and only one malignant lesion was found below 20 years. Among all lesions studied, benign lesions were most common, found in 406 subjects. 18.5% of all lesions were malignant in nature, among which the majority were invasive breast cancer. Conclusion Breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease with varying patterns. Most of the lesions studied were benign in nature, of which the most common was fibroadenoma. The most common malignant lesion in the study was invasive breast cancer - nonspecific type. Understanding the histopathological patterns of breast lesions is essential for improving the diagnostic and treatment outcomes of this disease.