Most of the patients with symptoms related to their breasts present themselves with fear of breast cancer, but it is not always easy to allay their fear. If we understand the symptoms of breast diseases better, we may able to explain to our
patients
more confidently with more scientific basis. This study analysed breast related symptoms of 685 patients, who visited the outpatient clinic of Department of Surgery, Keimyung University School of Medicine, between January of 1989 and May of 1990.
Three hundred and fourtyone patients(49.8%) presented with breast mass only as their complaints, 139 patients (20.3%) with breast pain only, 35 patients (5.1%) with abnormal nipple discharge only, 113 patients (16.5%) with combination of breast
mass and
breast pain, and the remaining 57 patients (9.2%) with other combinations of symptoms.
Among 341 patients who presented with breast mass as their only symptom, 132 patients were found to have no breast mass on examination, and 71 patients were diagnosed to have breast cancer. Of the remaining patients, fibroadenoma was found in 70
patients, fibrocystic disease in 19 patients, gynecomastia in 12 patients, lipoma in nine patients, breast abscess in seven patients, and other benign breast diseases in the remaining 21 patients.
Breast pain was the only presenting symptom in 139 patients and out of these patients(83.5%) or 116 patients, were found to have no breast abnormality, and only 16.5%(23 patients) were found to have various benign breast diseases. No one was
found
to
have breast cancer when presented with breast pain as the only symptom.
Abnormal nipple discharge alone was found in 35 patient as their presenting symptom and two patients were found to have breast cancer.
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