A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON MASTALGIA IN SULAIMANIA, IRAQ

Abstract

Mastalgia is one of the most common breast symptoms. The aim of this study is to describe theclinical, pathological, ultrasonographic and mammographic features of this common symptom inSulaimania, Iraq.A prospective study done over a period of 1 year, between 1st Sept 2007 and 30th Aug 2008,during that period, 132 cases of mastalgia were seen in a private general surgical office inSulaimania. Data were collected about history, physical examination, ultrasonographic,mammographic, fine needle aspiration cytology and open surgical biopsy findings.Mastalgia was divided into cyclical mastalgia and non cyclical mastalgia and their underlyingcauses and their response to different lines of treatment were recorded.Out of 132 patients, 58 patients (43.94%) had cyclical mastalgia, and 74 patients (56.06%) hadnoncyclical mastalgia. Their age ranged 17-67 years. Duration of pain was from 7 days - 2years. Fear of breast cancer was present in 34.09% of the patients. Normal findings were foundin 58.33% of ultrasonographies and negative findings in 78.57 % of mammographies done. Inthe majority of patients with mastalgia (58.33%) no cause could be found and the most commonfinding was fibrocystic changes (19.69%). The incidence of breast cancer in our patients waslow (0.75%). Most patients with mastalgia (84.69%) improved with reassurance.Conclusion: Most of the patients with mastalgia were young and middle aged, housewives,married, multiparous and practiced breast feeding. The incidence of breast cancer was low. Inthe majority of them no cause could be found. Most patients improved with reassurance.