Frequency of breast disease among patients attending breast clinic in tripoli central hospital, Tripoli, Libya

Abstract

Background and Aims: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the world. This study is aiming to assess the frequency of breast cancer and other breast diseases in Libyan women attending breast clinic in Tripoli Central Hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was obtained through interview questionnaires after having obtained ethical approval. Four hundred patients seeking medical consultation in the outpatients' breast clinic of Tripoli Central Hospital, Libya, from August to October 2019 were included in this study. Results: Women aged 35–50 years were the most visiting age group to the breast clinic (53.3%), followed by women older than 50 years and the age group of < 35 years old was the least with about (26%). According to this study, the most common presentation was breast mass (71.8%), the second was breast pain then a nipple discharge with only 8.3%. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer represent 27.5% of patients who attended the clinic, and the majority was having benign conditions. Conclusion: The majority of breast lumps are benign and cancer cases represent <1/3rd of cases attending the breast clinic at Tripoli Central Hospital, Tripoli, Libya. Public health education and awareness campaigns regarding the early detection of breast cancer are needed to reduce cancer mortality.