Epidemiology, Pathological Characteristics and Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Status of Operated Cases of Female Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Review of 266 Cases from Kerala

International variation in breast cancer incidence and mortality in young women

PURPOSE

Breast cancer in young women (< 40 years) is rare and carries a poor prognosis relative to breast cancer in older women. Most studies examining global breast cancer patterns do not describe the trends in young women specifically.

METHODS

Data from GLOBOCAN 2018 were used to compare breast cancer incidence and mortality rates among younger (ages 0-39) vs. older (ages 40+) women across 185 countries. The coefficient of variation (the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean) was used to quantify relative variability.

RESULTS

The risk of developing breast cancer to age 39 ranged from 0.13% in Guinea to 0.95% in South Korea (coefficient of variation: 46%), and the risk of death from breast cancer to age 39 ranged from 0.02% in China to 0.72% in Cameroon (coefficient of variation: 81%). In contrast, the risk of developing breast cancer to age 74 ranged from 1.5% in Mozambique to 12.2% in Belgium (coefficient of variation: 50%), and the risk of death from breast cancer to age 74 ranged from 0.65% in South Korea to 3.0% in Somalia (coefficient of variation: 36%).

CONCLUSIONS

Among young women, breast cancer mortality rates varied more worldwide than breast cancer incidence. In contrast, among older women/women of all ages, breast cancer incidence varied more than breast cancer mortality. Further research is required to examine the impact of stage at diagnosis, clinicopathologic features, and treatments received, on variations in the survival and mortality of breast cancer in young women around the world.

Flap Fixation as a Technique for Reducing Seroma Formation in Patients Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy: an Institutional Experience

Formation of seroma most frequently occurs after mastectomy and axillary surgery. This study is intended at creating data on whether flap fixation has any role in reducing the seroma formation in patients undergoing the modified radical mastectomy. A prospective comparative study was conducted among 61 patients scheduled for modified radical mastectomy from 1st of January 2017 to 31st of December 2017. Patients were divided into two groups. In the flap fixation group (N = 30), the skin flaps were sutured to the pectoral muscle with Vicryl 3-0 sutures, and in the control group (N = 31), the wound was closed in the conventional methods at the edges. Closed suction drain was used in both groups. Flap fixation group showed a significantly lower frequency of seroma formation compared with the control group. In the flap fixation group, the drain was removed earlier compared with the control group. Mean value of the total amount of fluid drained for the study group was significantly lower than that of control. Flap fixation is a surgical technique which appears to reduce the total volume of fluid drained, the development of seroma, and the need for seroma aspirations.