Introduction: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histologic type of breast carcinoma. The etiology of ILC is unknown; however, many contributing risk factors have been suggested. Treatment of ILC can be divided into local and systemic. Our objectives were to assess the clinical presentations, risk factors, radiological findings, pathological types, and surgical options for patients with ILC treated at the national guard hospital. Identify the factors associated with metastasis and recurrence.
Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study at a tertiary care center in Riyadh. All adult patients aged 16 years and above, from different nationalities, and both genders, were diagnosed with ILC from 2000 to 2017 and followed up at KAMC. The sampling technique was a non-probability consecutive technique. Among 1066 patients identified, 91 patients were diagnosed with ILC over seventeen years study period.
Results: The median age at the primary diagnosis was 50. On the clinical examination, 63 (71%) cases were found to have palpable masses which was the most suspicious finding. On radiology, the most encountered finding was speculated masses which were seen in 76 (84%). Regarding the pathology, unilateral breast cancer was seen in 82 while bilateral breast cancer was found only in eight. For the biopsy, a core needle biopsy was the most commonly used in 83 (91%) patients. The most documented surgery for ILC patients was a modified radical mastectomy. Metastasis in different organs was identified with the musculoskeletal system being the commonest site. Different significant variables were compared between patients with or without metastasis. Skin changes, post-operative invasion, estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors were significantly associated with metastasis. Patients with metastasis were less likely to have conservative surgery. Regarding the Recurrence and five years survival, out of 62 cases, 10 had recurrence within five years, which was more prevalent in patients who had fine needle aspiration, excisional biopsy, and nulliparous patients.
Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to exclusively describe ILC in Saudi Arabia. The results of this current study are highly important, as these results provide baseline data of ILC in the capital city of Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: biopsy; invasive lobular breast carcinoma; mammogram; metastasis; modified radical mastectomy.
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