Over 2.2 million cases of breast cancer were recorded in 2020, making it the most common cancer. Nearly one in 12 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women. Around 685,000 women died of breast cancer in 2020 [1] .

Most breast cancer cases and breast cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. When it comes to breast cancer, the disparities between low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries are huge.

It is in Africa and Polynesia that we observe the highest rate of mortality from breast cancer. In sub-Saharan Africa, half of the women who die of breast cancer are under the age of 50 [1] .

Breast cancer treatment has seen great advances since 1980. In high-income countries, the age-specific breast cancer mortality rate fell by 40% between the 1980s and 2020s. These improvements have yet to be replicated in low- and middle-income countries.

In 2020, in Mali according to data from the cancer registry, breast cancer is the leading cancer; at the same time, there was a beginning of institutionalization of early diagnosis and management of breast cancer in Bamako by setting up a network in accordance with the health pyramid.

This network is made up of clinical and/or radiologically suspicious breast abnormalities diagnostic unit at CSCOM and CSREF level; reference services in the management of breast cancer after histological diagnosis.

The implementation of network support for breast cancer patients in Bamako not only has the advantage of improving access to adequate care, but also of building a better database on the disease.

Given the scarcity of data at the hospital level on breast cancer in Mali, we found it useful to continue studies in the gynecological and mammary cancer screening and management unit of the gynecology and obstetrics department of the CHU Gabriel Touré. The objective of this work is to study the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of breast cancer from 2020 to 2022.

Our study took place at the gynecological and breast cancer management unit of the gynecology and obstetrics department of the CHU Gabriel Touré. It was a retrospective and descriptive study which took place from January 2020 as of October 31, 2022. The study population consists of patients with breast cancer diagnosed by histology during our study period.

The administrative and health authorities were informed of the survey by a request for authorization to collect data. The patients were collected according to the socio-demographic, clinical and anatomopathological data collected on the basis of the medical files. The data were collected on a validated individual survey form, a model of which is appended. The completed tools were reviewed over time to correct errors. The forms were anonymous and the confidentiality of the information collected was guaranteed with access restricted to members of the research team.

Data entry and analysis were done on SPSS 25, Excel and Microsoft Office 2013 Word software. The statistical tests used were:

➢ Parametric tests: mean and standard deviation;

➢ Non-parametric tests: the Chi-2 test.

Frequency (Tables 1-6 and Figures 1-5):

The average age is 45.55 years (16 - 85 years).

Housewives were in the majority at 92.7%.

57.5% were multiparous.

Among patients with a notion of contraception, 66.9% had a duration of contraception between 1 and 5 years.

60.6% had a duration of breastfeeding between 1 and 2 years.

Mastitis was found in 55.6% of patients with a personal history of benign breast disease.

Physical examination (Tables 7-22 and Figures 6-9)

The dominant reason for consultation was the breast lump at 92.7%.

Breast asymmetry was observed in 65.3%.

The contralateral breast was not affected in 67.6%.

Breast discharge was observed in 64.4%.

Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade 2 and Elston-Ellis grade were observed in 71.2%.

Death was observed in 54.33%.

The tumor was located in the supero-external quadrant in 53.9%.

The biopsy was performed in 98.6%.

Metastasis was present in 81.2%.

Breast edema was observed in 53%.

Redness of the breast has and observed in 64.4%.

The left breast was the frequently affected at 53.9%.

The orange peel appearance was observed in 60.7%.

The tumor was class T4 in 77.6%.

Chemotherapy was the treatment in 83.1%.

Chi2 is 0.041 so significant. The presence of metastasis would probably be influenced by the age of the patient.

We collected a total of 219 breast cancer cases, all female; i.e. an average frequency of 77.2 new cases per year. This frequency is high compared to those found by M Ranaivomanan et al. in Madagascar, Zaki et al. in Niger, which are respectively 7.75 and 64.5 cases per year [2] [3] . Regarding age, the extremes were 16 and 85 years, with an average age of 45.55 years. The 35 - 45 year old class was the most represented with 36.1% of cases. Moreover, 58.5% of women are less than or equal to 45 years old, corresponding to the period of genital activity. In Niger, Zaki et al. found 69.89% of breast cancers in women before the age of 50 [3] , a higher value than ours. Overall in sub-Saharan Africa, cancer occurs in young women of middle age at the time of diagnosis between 42 and 53 years [4] . In our study, the decrease in breast cancer after the age of 50 may be linked on the one hand to the fact that certain habits such as breastfeeding for more than a year are respected, and on the other hand to the absence or low prevalence of certain risk factors such as hormonal treatments, as well as the low alcohol consumption observed in this population. The concept of contraception was found in 63.3% of patients with a duration of majority contraception between 1 to 5 years. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by 88.58% of the patients. The duration of breastfeeding was predominant at 60.6% between 1 and 2 years.

In our series, housekeepers account for 92.7%; the multiparous majority at 57.57%; this predominant tendency of multiparas was reported by M. Touré et al. in Côte d’Ivoire at 45% [5] . Does the occupation property of housewives lead to unstable moods, furthermore cause an imbalance in the secretion of certain hormones and ultimately lead to their high rate of breast cancer diagnosis?

Given the background; those of personal benign breast pathology, and the absence of a family history of breast cancer were reported in the respective order of 55.6% and 98.6% in our study. Physical inactivity was observed in 74.4% of patients.

Of the 219 cases identified, the left breast was the most affected with 53.9%, followed by the right side, 43.8% and finally 2.3% bilateral involvement. In general, the involvement of the left breast was predominant compared to the right breast according to several authors [6] [7] . However, some like Darré T et al. And Sano D et al. reported a predominance of the right breast [8] [9] . In the literature, bilateral involvement is generally between 3 and 13% [10] [11] . In our study, the tumor was found at the QSE in 53.9% of cases, at the QSI in 18.7%, regardless of the side of the breast affected. These rates are higher than those reported by Togo A et al. who found 41.4% for the QSE, 12.2% for the QSI; however, the nipple site was present in them in 19.05% of cases [12] . Breast pain was reported in 68%, breast discharge observed in 64.4% of cases.

In varying proportions, local clinical signs were reported: breast swelling in 92.7% of cases; tumor size classified as T4 in 77.6%; breast asymmetry was observed in 65.3% of patients; breast redness in 64.4%; the appearance of orange peel in 60.7%; firm consistency of the breast in observed in 57%; breast edema in 53%.

Lymph node involvement revealed N1 in 67.12% of cases; breast cancer is very frequently metastatic with at most one metastasis in 81.28% of cases. The occurrence of metastases would probably be influenced by the age of the patients (Chi2 = 0.041 therefore significant).

The high rate of frequencies of locoregional and general signs is consistent with the late diagnosis of breast cancer in our series. This proof is supported by the review of the literature of multiple authors carried out by M. Ly et al. who shares the observation of the diagnosis at stage III and IV [4] .

For the diagnostic evocation, we note 98.6% of biopsy + histology and mastectomy + histology in 1.4% of the cases; in Côte d’Ivoire, Touré et al. reported 80% fine needle aspiration + cytology and 20% microbiopsy echoguided + histology [5] .

The histological type was specified in almost all patients. Non-specific invasive carcinoma is the most represented with 208 cases (95%). Darre et al. in Togo found, as in our series, the predominance of the same histological type up to (96%) [13] . The histoprognostic grade of SBR studied in this series revealed the predominance of grade II in the order of 70.2%, followed by grade III at 29.2%. This order corroborates that of Darré et al. in Togo but in different proportions, namely grade II (54.67%), grade III (34.95%) and I (10.38%) [13] . In Yaoundé, Essiben et al. finds a different trend, with in order of frequency, grades II, I and III [14] . The immunohistochemical status has been studied very little, only 1 case reported (0.45%). This proportion was low compared to the entire study population and cannot reliably reflect reality. This is explained by the recent introduction of this type of analysis in the country’s diagnostic package, access to which remains restricted for financial reasons. However, the prognostic and predictive role of hormone receptors remains essential in the management of breast cancer.

Following the multidisciplinary consultation meeting, the therapeutic strategy was chemotherapy in 83.1%; neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery in 10% of cases; primary surgery 6.4% and radiotherapy in 0.5% of cases. This order of frequency sufficiently shows the problem of late diagnosis of breast cancer in our series, it corroborates the trends revealed by a study carried out in Madagascar which were 55% diagnosis at stage III, 32% at stage IV.

The problem of late diagnosis of breast cancer in the context of Mali partly explains the poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. This is consistent with the observations of our study with records a death rate of 54.3% during the period of our study.

Our study of 219 cases of breast cancer in the gynecology-obstetrics department of the CHU Gabriel Touré allowed the analysis of the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of breast cancer. It emerges that the major challenges in the fight against breast cancer in Mali remain screening, early diagnosis and adequate care.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest concerning the publication of this article.

Diarra, S., Samake, M., Saye, A., Dembélé, B., Traoré, B., Dembélé, S.B., Diarra, D., Dianéssy, Y., Guiré, A. and Kamate, B. (2023) Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects of Breast Cancer in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the CHU Gabriel Touré from 2020 to 2022. Advances in Breast Cancer Research, 12, 97-113. https://doi.org/10.4236/abcr.2023.123008

CS COM: Community Health Center

CS Ref: Reference Health Center

CHU: University Hospital Center

SURVEY SHEET

Q1. Survey sheet no.: ____________ /

Q2. Age (years): ______________/

Q3. Weight (Kg): ______________/

Q4. Blood group: ___________/

Q5. Gender: ________________/

1 = Male 2 = Female

Q6. Occupation: ________________________________ /

1 = Housewife 4 = Student

2 = Civil servant 5 = Other (to be specified) 3 = Trader

Q7. Ethnicity: ___________________/

1 = Sarakolé 5 = Bambara 9 = Dogon

2 = Malinke 6 = Minianka/Senufo 10 = Peulh

3 = Kassonké 7 = Sonrhaï 11 = Others (specify)

4 = Tuareg 8 = Bobo

Q8. Usual address: ________________________________ /Tel

Q9. Nationality: _________________/

1 = Malian 2 = Other (specify)

Q11. Marital status: _________________/

1 = Married 3 = Divorced 5 = Other (specify)

2 = Single 4 = Widowed

Q12. Consultation Health Center: _______________________/

Q15. Reason for consultation: _____________/

1 = Breast nodule or swelling 6 = Vegetative ulceration

2 = Deformation of the skin or nipple 7 = Association to be specified

3 = Nipple discharge 8 = New recurrence

4 = Breast pain 9 = Other (specify)

5 = Axillary nodule

Q13. Consultation period: ______________/

Specify the number of months, weeks or days

Q14. Age of first period: _____________/

Specify age

Q14. Age at first pregnancy: ___________/

Q15. Parity (number of pregnancies): ____________/

Q16. Birth control: ____________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q21. If yes; Method used: _____________________________ /

1 = Oral 2 = Injectable 3 = others (specify)

Q22. Duration of intake: _____________________/

Specify the number of times

Q23. Contraceptive name: _____________________________/

Q24. Menopause: _______________________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q25. Age at menopause: __________________

Q26. Breastfeeding method: ___________________/

1 = Maternal 2 = Mixed 3 = Artificial

Q27. Duration of breastfeeding: _________________/

0 = Not breastfeeding 2 = 1 - 2 years

1 = less than 1 year 3 = greater than 2 years

Q28. Personal history of cancer: _________/

1 = Breast 2 = Other (specify) 3 = None

Q29. Family history of breast cancer: _________/

1 = Grandparents 3 = Sisters 5 = Others (specify)

2 = Mother 4 = Aunt 6 = None

Q30. Family history of other cancers: ___________/

1 = Grandparents 3 = Sisters 5 = Others (specify)

2 = Mother 4 = Aunt 6 = None

Q31. General signs: A. General condition: ____________________/

1 = Good 3 = Fair

2 = Altered

B. Conjunctivae: ____________________/

1 = Colored 2 = Jaundice 3 = Pale

C. Temperature (˚C): ________________/

Q32. Skin signs: _____________________/

1 = No signs 4 = Ulceration 7 = Association (to be specified)

2 = Swelling 5 = Retraction

3 = Orange peel skin 6 = Other (specify)

Q33. Affected breasts: ______________________/

1 = Left breast

2 = Right breast 3 = 1 + 2

Q34. Tumor location: _______________________________________________/

1 = Upper-outer quadrant 4 = Lower -outer quadrant

2 = Superior-internal quadrant 5 = Others (to be specified)

3 = Infero-internal quadrant 6 = Associations (to be specified)

Q35. anapath exam requested by: _____________/

1 = The patient herself 3 = Surgeon 5 = Others (specify)

2 = General practitioner 4 = Gynecologist

Q36. Tumor size: ______________________/

1 = T0 (no palpable tumour) 4 = T3 (tumor larger than 5 cm in diameter)

2 = T1 (tumor less than 2 cm in diameter) 5 = T4 (tumor with wall extension)

3 = T2 (2 cm to 5 cm and/or skin) and or to the skin)

Q37. Tumor consistency: _________________/

1 = Hard 3 = Soft

2 = Farm 4 = Other (specify)

. Muscle adhesion: ______________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q39. Adhesion to the rib grill: ___________________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q40. Lymph node involvement: ____________________/

1 = N0 (no palpable lymph nodes 3 = N2 (Fixed axillary adenopathy

2 = N1 (Mobile homolateral axillary lymph node) 4 = N4 (ADP supraclavicular or arm edema)

Q41. Breast pain: ________________________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q42. Breast discharge: ______________________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q43. Contralateral breast involvement: ___________________/

1 = Yes 2 = No

Q44. Personal history of mastopathies: ______________/

1 = Adenofibroma

2 = Mastitis 5 = Other to be specified

3 = Fibrocystic disease

4 = Cyst 6 = No ATCD

Q45. Other History: ____________________________/

Q46. Mammogram: ______________________________/

1 = Aspect suspicious of cancer 3 = Normal

2 = Benign tumor 4 = Other (specify)

Q47. Ultrasound: _________________________________/

1 = Aspect suspicious of cancer 3 = Normal

2 = Benign tumor 4 = Other (specify)

Q48. Cytopunction: _______________________________/

1 = Cancer 3 = Normal

2 = Benign tumor 4 = Other (specify)

Q49. Date of collection: _________________________/

Q50. Nature of the document sent for the anapath examination: __________/

1 = Breast biopsy 3 = Mastectomy 5 = 3 + 4

2 = Lumpectomy 4 = Lymph node dissection

Q51. Histological type: ________________________/

1 = ductal carcinoma in situ 11 = infiltrating micropapillary carcinoma

2 = metaphase carcinoma 12 = mucinous carcinoma

3 = lobular carcinoma in situ 13 = malignant phyllodes tumor

4 = apocrine carcinoma 14 = invasive cribriform carcinoma

5 = infiltrating ductal carcinoma 15 = scirrhous carcinoma

6 = adenoid cystic carcinoma 16 = breast endocrine carcinoma

7 = invasive lobular carcinoma 17 = colloidal adenocarcinoma

8 = mucoepidermoid carcinoma 18 = tubular carcinoma

9 = secreting carcinoma

10 = bone marrow carcinoma

Q52. Lymph node histology: ________________/

1 = Not done 2 = Invasion 3 = No invasion

Q53. SBR Rating: ______________________/

1 = Grade I 2 = Grade II 3 = Grade III

Q54. Treatment: ___________________________/

Q55. Immunohistochemistry

Yes …………. No …………

1 = Chemotherapy 4 = Hormone therapy 7 = 2 + 3

2 = surgery 5 = 1 + 2

3 = Radiotherapy 6 = 1 + 2 + 3

Q56. Evolution: ____________________________/

1 = remission 2 =complications 3 = Lost to follow-up 4 = Death