부산대학교 도서관

OBJECTIVES: Analyze the clinico-pathological features of breast cancer occuring in young women under 30 years. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 27 cases of histologically confirmed breast cancer, collected during 8 years, in gynecology and pathology departments of our institution. All patients were under 30 years of age at diagnosis. Clinical data, pathological investigations and outcome statistics were analyzed. RESULTS: The average age in our series was 26.5 years. Discovery of a breast nodule was the predominant clinical symptom (80%) with an average consultation time of 8 months. Tumor size was > 5.5 cm in 60% of cases. The tumor was T4 in 35% of cases and M1 in 3 patients. Treatment was radical and conservative in respectively 60% and 15% of cases. Histological type was an invasive ductal carcinoma all cases, grade III of scarff Bloom and Richardson in 35% of cases. Lymph node involvement was noted in 27.5% of cases. Phenotype profiles was distributed as follows: HER2 in 7 cases, triple negative in 8 cases, luminal A and B in 6 cases each. Chemo and radio therapies were performed in respectively 90 and 95% of cases, Hormone and targeted therapies were performed in 40% and 25% of cases respectively. Recurrences were noted in 25% of cases, distant metastases in 45% of cases and disease related dealth in 12% of cases. BRCA1 was positive in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer in young women seems to be highly heterogeneous and has potentially aggressive and complex biological features.