“Histopathological Spectrum of Breast Lesions- a Tertiary Care Study”

Background- Breast lesions are a common clinical entity, encompassing a wide range of pathological conditions. Breast cancer is the most common cause of women's mortality worldwide. Breast pathologies show a wide range of histopathological spectrum, ranging from inflammation to carcinomas of breast. An accurate histopathological diagnosis is very crucial for effective management and prognostication. Aim and Objective—This study aims to evaluate the different histopathological lesions diagnosed on the mastectomy specimens received and analyse the lesions' distribution among various age groups. Material and Methods- This is a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Pathology at Santosh Medical College from July 2022 to July 2024. All the mastectomy specimens received in the Histopathology Unit were grossed, processed, and stained for microscopic examination. Patients' clinical details, including age and gender, were obtained from the requisition form received with the specimen. Results- A total of 114 specimens were received in 2 years, out of which 112 were females and only 2 specimens were from male. Maximum cases were reported among 21-30 years, followed by <20 years. Among the lesions, 73.7% were reported as benign breast lesions, and 26.3% were malignant. Among benign cases, fibroadenoma was most common, and among malignant cases, IDC-NOS was common. Conclusion- This study highlights the diverse histopathological spectrum of breast lesions encountered in a tertiary care center. The study concludes that the majority of benign cases as well as malignant cases were reported before their 5th decade of life, which alarms the changing trend in breast cancer.