Benign Breast Diseases in Kaduna: A 22 Year Histopathological Review

Background: Benign breast diseases (BBD) are a spectrum of non-malignant diseases of the breast that range from developmental abnormalities, inflammatory lesions, epithelial and stromal proliferations, and neoplasms. They constitute most breast diseases and closely mimic breast cancers clinically and radiologically. However, they have received insufficient attention thus far. This study aims to determine the demographic and histologic characteristics of BBD seen at the Pathology Department, 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna (NARHK) from 1997 to 2018. Material and Methods: It was a 22-year retrospective and descriptive study of all non-malignant breast diseases diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, 44 NARHK from 1st January 1997 to 31st December 2018. The histopathology reports, slides and paraffin embedded tissue blocks of all histologically diagnosed benign breast diseases within the study period were retrieved and examined. The age, sex and histopathological diagnosis were extracted and statistically analyzed. Results: Benign breast diseases comprised 71.8% (928) of all breast biopsies received (1292 biopsies). There was a female preponderance with M: F of 1:21.1. The age range was 1-85 years, mode 20 years, median age 23 years, mean age 27.0 years and peak age-group of incidence 20-29 years (30.4%). Fibroadenoma was the predominant histologic type (57.1%), followed by Fibrocystic change (18.8%), Sclerosing Adenosis (8.4%) and Gynaecomastia. Conclusions: Benign breast diseases were the commonest breast lesions diagnosed. Predominantly affecting young people in the 2nd and 3rd decades with a mean age of 27 years. Majority were Fibroadenoma and Fibrocystic change.