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Prognostic implications of fibrocystic dysplasia in breasts removed for mammary carcinoma
Author(s) -
Silverberg Steven G.,
Chitale Arun R.,
Levitt Seymour H.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197203)29:3<574::aid-cncr2820290307>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , oophorectomy , breast cancer , dysplasia , mastectomy , carcinoma , incidence (geometry) , cancer , population , gynecology , surgery , hysterectomy , pathology , physics , environmental health , optics
The specimens from 398 mastectomies performed for carcinoma were studied for the presence of fibrocystic dysplasia (FCD) and other benign changes. FCD was observed in 39.4% of all cancer‐bearing breasts, an incidence not markedly different from that in benign breasts studied by other workers. Women who undergo mastectomy for mammary carcinoma and are found to show histologic evidence of FCD tend to have smaller tumors and less axillary nodal involvement than women whose breasts do not show FCD. In addition, the women with FCD comprise a younger population, are less likely to be Negroes, and have had more favorable clinical staging prior to surgery. Survival is slightly but consistently better at 5 years after surgery in women with FCD, and fewer of them have died of cancer at this time. We cannot explain these findings in terms of early detection of cancer, heightened host response, or hormone dependency of tumors associated with FCD, since the women in this group show no differences from women without FCD in duration of symptoms, incidence of sinus histiocytosis, or survival after prophylactic oophorectomy. Studies to determine whether women whose mastectomy specimens show FCD respond more favorably to subsequent therapeutic oophorectomy might be of considerable value.