[Comparative study of clinical and pathological features of breast cancer in women with 40 years old and younger vs 70 years old and older]

Abstract

Background: Invasive breast cancer is the most common neoplasia in women attended at IMSS health system since 2004.

Objective: To compare clinical and radiological characteristics on initial appraisal, as well as surgical treatment, pathological features and adjuvant treatment in women with primary breast cancer of 40 years old and younger vs 70 years old and older.

Material and method: Clinical, radiological and pathological data of 150 patients with breast cancer treated at Hospital de ginecoobstetricia Luis Castelazo Ayala, from January 2003 to June 2006 were collected, and after divided in two groups: 1) patients with 40 years old and younger (n = 50), and 2) patients with 70 years old and older (n = 100).

Results: Tumoral size and radiological characteristics were similar in both groups. Group 1 and group 2 had 22 and 13%, respectively, of family history of breast cancer. Fine needle biopsy has positive predictive value of 50% for group 1, and 36% for group 2. Conservative surgery was less common at group 2. Most frequent histological type in both groups was infiltrating ductal carcinoma, followed by infiltrating lobular carcinoma, most common in older women (19 vs 12%), and we found more well differentiated ductal carcinomas in the group of 70 years old and older (12 vs 4%). Seventy-six percent of group 1 and 75% of group 2 were classified as early stage breast cancer (stages I and II). Cytotoxic therapy was offered mostly to group 1, 92 vs 35%. Radiotherapy (80 vs 59%), and hormonal therapy was given only to 56% of group 1 vs 80% of group 2.

Conclusions: Clinical and staging features were similar in both groups. Family history was more influential to group 1. Fine needle biopsy has a low positive predictive value for diagnostic. Well-differentiated carcinomas were higher in patients of group 2, and group 1 had more high-grade carcinomas. There was a trend to perform more conservative surgery at group 1, as well as they underwent more adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Use of hormonal therapy was more common at group 2.