Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - National Cancer Institute - Department of Oncology (surgery)

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death, due to cancer in females, worldwide. Invasive breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease in its presentation, pathological classification and clinical course. The most common histological type is invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS). The second most common epithelial type is invasive lobular carcinoma. However, there are more than a dozen variants which are less common but still very well defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. They comprise less than 10% of breast tumors. Their clinical behavior can differ greatly. Thus, it is important to know their main characteristics in order to make the best treatment choice and anticipate prognosis. The rarity of many of these types of breast cancer does not allow large studies to be done to identify the main characteristics and optimal treatment. Most studies are case reports or small series. This study included 272 patients with rare histopathologies of breast cancer presented at National Cancer Institute, Cairo. Between the years 2007 and 2012. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the data of rare breast cancers and to describe their main characteristics. The largest groups of rare breast cancers encountered in National Cancer Institute were mucinous carcinoma, medullary carcinoma and metaplastic carcinoma respectively. The experience of this institute may contribute to valuable data about these rare breast cancers and help in better understanding of this subgroup

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