Histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of breast carcinomas in Uyo, subtropical region of Africa

Abstract

Background: There is a relative dearth of data for immunohistochemical characteristics of breast carcinomas in cancer registries of Nigeria and some parts of Africa. A descriptive hospital based study, done over a year, involving three hospitals in Uyo rendering breast cancer care.

Objective: To determine the immunohisto chemical-expression pattern of oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal receptor 2 and their relationship with histopathological features of invasive breast carcinomas in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Materials and methods: Each specimen with an accompanying completely filled coded proforma form containing clinical characteristics of patients with breast cancer was received at the Histopathology Department for subsequent histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis.

Results: The age range for patients with breast carcinoma was 23 -70 years with a mean age at presentation of43.07 ± 11.19 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the commonest histological type accounting for 86.9 % of all breast cancer. Positivity for oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and Her-2 were seen in 18.0 %, 14.8 % and 32.8 % of breast carcinomas respectively. Majority of breast carcinomas were triple negative phenotype (62.3 %).

Conclusion: Majority of the invasive breast carcinomas in our environment were triple negative phenotype (62.3 %).