HISTOPATHOLOGICAL PATTERN OF 230 BENIGN FEMALE BREAST LESIONS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of various benign histopathological lesions in female breast biopsy specimens 
at tertiary care hospital of Peshawar.
Design: A descriptive study.
Place and Duration of study: January 2011 to December 2015 at the Pathology Department, Lady Reading Hospital 
(LRH), Peshawar.
Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study carried out at Pathology Department, Lady Reading 
Hospital, Peshawar over a period of five years ranging from January 2011 to December 2015. Laboratory request forms 
and histopathology reports of all female patients who underwent breast biopsy were analyzed for clinical findings, 
histopathology results and demographic data like age, sex etc.
Results: During the study period a total of 295 breast biopsies were received in the laboratory. Due to incomplete data, 
15 specimens were excluded from the study. Out of the remaining 280 specimens, 10 specimens pertained to males 
while 270 were related to females. Among 270 female breast specimens 230 had benign lesions while 40 specimens 
had malignancies. Most patients were younger than 30 years.  Fibroadenoma was the most frequent diagnosis followed 
by fibrocystic changes.
Conclusion: Benign breast diseases are more common as compared to malignant. This fact may make histopathologist 
generous in giving benign reports by missing some malignant findings. It is therefore necessary that all specimens of 
breast tissue should be evaluated carefully to exclude any possibility of breast cancer.
Key Words: Breast, Biopsy, Demography, Female, Fibroadenoma, Fibrocystic breast disease.