Abstract

Background: Locally advanced breast cancer is a well-defined subcategory of Breast cancer associated with variable clinical outcomes. The lack of specificity in its presentation makes its treatment challenging resulting in a high risk of local recurrence. Local as well as regional studies on the incidence of LABC are quite scarce. We therefore designed a retrospective study to assess the incidence as well as age distribution of LABC.

Method: we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients presenting to our breast Unit to assess the prevalence of LABC and compared this with other subcategories of Breast Cancer. We also assessed the immunohistochemistry properties of breast cancer correlating it with age at presentation and risk of LABC. All patients were fully evaluated based on established protocols of breast cancer care.

Result: Our Study recruited 529 patients with breast cancer who had triple assessment conducted by consultants with breast cancer diagnosis confirmed. Our result showed that LABC was the overall commonest subcategory of breast cancer at 66.2%. It occurs more frequently in those under 40 accounting for 75.5% while 61.6% of patients over 40 had LABC p value=0.008. Luminal B was the commonest subtype seen in our center. Her2 positive and triple negative subtypes where more frequently associated with LABC at 80.3% and 76.3% respectively.

Conclusion: we concluded that LABC is the commonest pattern of Breast cancer noted in our center occurring frequently in patients under 40 years and is frequently associated with Her2 and triple negative subtype.

Keywords: Breast carcinoma, LABC, core biopsy, staging, MDT, molecular classification, Oman