A Nationwide Study of Breast Cancer Histopathology in Cameroon (Central Africa)

Background and objectives: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in Africa. Like other countries in that continent, Cameroon has very week pathology and health information services. This study was conducted to determine the histopathologic features of breast cancer all over Cameroon.Methods: The study was retrospective and cross-sectional. Data were collected in the 10 regional hospitals and in national referral hospitals. We included complete files of patients diagnosed with breast cancer from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2015. Doubloons were avoided for patients seen both at regional and national hospitals. Files with conflicting pathology results were excluded.Results: Of the 1666 files included, 180 (12.6%) with conflicting pathology results were excluded and1486 cases were analyzed. Mean age was 47.9 years (range 17-91 years).Ethnic groups from 3 regions out of 10 accounted for 78.1% of patients. 82.3% of cases were diagnosed in the two regions main towns of the country. Diagnosis was late, with 97.5% of patients already presenting symtpoms. Histopathological analysis was performed for 1371 (92.3%) of cases. Pathology specimens were mainly biopsies (79.4%). All male breast cancers (15 cases) and 87.7% of female cases were ductal carcinoma. Grade 2 of Scarff-Bloom-Richardson’s classification was the most frequent (51.1%) followed by Grade 3 (303%).Discussion: Ethnicity seems to have an influence on breast cancer distribution in Cameroon. Pathological diagnosis is mainly done on biopsies and ductal carcinoma is the most frequent type of breast cancer in the country. Pathology services should be evenly distributed around the country.