Clinical Profile of Female Patients Presented with Breast Diseases: An Institutional Analysis in Baghdad, Iraq

Background: Female patients may complain of breast symptoms throughout their lives. These lesions are mostly benign. Benign breast lesions are much more common than breast cancer throughout the world. Objectives: to assess the frequency, pattern, and clinical presentation of breast diseases among female patients attending the breast clinic in one of the largest teaching hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq, during 2023. Methods: All cases that visited the breast clinic at Al-Imamein Al-Kadhmain Medical City Hospital, Iraq, in 2023 had their case files reviewed as part of a cross-sectional descriptive survey. Results: The total number of patients was 7526. For benign breast disease, the mean age of presentation was 36.4 years. And for malignant breast disease, it was 43.5 years. 49.8% of them presented with pathological symptoms, and 51.4% of the total patients came for follow-up visits, 999 Patients (13.2%) were examined using mammograms after referral by the specialist physician. The mammogram showed that 48% of them had a normal exam, and 37.5% were found to have a benign disease. 0.46% had a malignant disease, and only 17% were found to be suspected cases. 367 patients (36.7%) continued their work up inside the hospital and did FNAC and/or biopsy for a definite diagnosis; 10.3% showed malignant cells, and 88.2% were benign diseases of the breast. Conclusions: Benign diseases were the most common type, and breast mass was the main clinical presentation of both benign and malignant diseases.