Histopathological Types of Operable Early Breast Cancer in the Elderly: Is there a Special Pattern? – a Retrospective, Multicentre Study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of histopathological types of breast cancer in women aged 70 years or more with operable early breast cancer, and its implication on the potential prognosis. Methodology & Material: A retrospective cohort study included 170 patients hospitalised for breast cancer treatment in departments of surgery of two teaching hospitals (Basildon University Hospital, Basildon, United Kingdom, and Greater Poland Oncology Centre, Poznan, Poland). Material and methods : All 170 patients underwent surgical management for breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common histopathological type in the study group (74%). The mucinous carcinoma was seen in 1.7% of cases, invasive lobular carcinoma in only 1% of patients, while the ductal carcinoma in situ was present in 6.5% of subjects. Lympho-vascular invasion was detected in 23% of cases. Conclusion: Less aggressive histological pattern was predominantly detected in the elderly patients with breast cancers.