Breast Cancer in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria: A 10-YearHistopathological Retrospective Survey

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy among women globally and is increasingly recognised as a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Understanding the histopathological patterns of malignant breast lesions is essential for effective diagnosis, management, and policy development. This study was set to determine the histopathological spectrum and demographic distribution of malignant breast lesions in a Nigerian cohort and to compare the findings with similar studies in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and globally. It was a retrospective descriptive analysis and was conducted on 147 (100%) histologically diagnosed malignant breast lesions. Data collected included patient sex, age, and type of malignant lesion. Descriptive statistics, Tables, Bar charts, and Pie charts were used to illustrate the distribution of lesions. Females accounted for 96.6% (142) of cases, males represented a minor fraction of 3.4% (5), giving a male-to-female ratio of 1:30. The mean age for the disease was 55.2 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the predominant subtype, of 71.2% (104) of all the malignant breast cases. Soft tissue malignant lesions 7.5% (11), lobular carcinoma 5.5% (8) Mucinoid carcinoma 4.1% (6), metastatic carcinoma in 0.7% (1) and rare tumours such as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma were 0.7% (1) of the cases. The findings reaffirm the dominance of invasive ductal carcinoma among malignant breast lesions, with a relatively younger mean age of presentation compared to Western populations. These patterns emphasise the need for strengthened early detection programs and highlight regional variations that must be considered in public health planning and resource allocation.