Factors associated with late diagnosis of breast cancer in women in Togo, Sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with late diagnosis of breast cancer in Togolese women. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes on cases of breast cancer in women in 2021, in Togo. The patients included in this study were women followed in the gynecology department for stages III and IV breast cancer. RESULTS: We included 62 cases of breast cancer. The average age of the patients was 38.6 ± 12.5 years with extremes of 17 and 76 years. The breast nodule was the most common reason for consultation in 75.8% of cases. The histological types diagnosed were invasive carcinoma of non-specific type (58; 93.55%), mucinous carcinoma (3; 4.84%) and lobular carcinoma (1; 1.61%). For the stage of the cancer, 43 patients were stage III (69.4%) and 19 stage IV (30.6%). In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with late diagnosis of breast cancer were: fear of diagnosis (aOR = 1.29; p = 0.0014), long delay in diagnosis (aOR = 2.62; p = 0.0001) and failure to perform breast self-examination (aOR = 1.68; p = 0.0022). CONCLUSION: The fear of the diagnosis, the absence of self-examination of the breasts and the use of traditional treatment and self-medication in first intention constituted the essential factors of the late diagnosis of breast cancer. Strategies should be put in place at the national level to impact on these factors for an early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer in Togolese Women: Imaging and Clinicopathological Findings.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and its incidence and mortality rates are expected to increase significantly over the next few years, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, radiological, histopathological, and prognostic aspects of breast cancer in Togo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed at our Department of Pathology of Lomé all cases of breast cancer in women confirmed by histology over a period of 20 years (2000-2019). RESULTS: We collected 804 cases of breast cancer in women. The median age was 46.7 years (range, 12-86 years). Patients aged <40 years represented 48.38% of cases, and the left breast was more affected (51.24%). Most women were sexually active (71.52%) and resided in urban areas (66.29%). Carcinomas represented the predominant histological group (796 cases, 99.00%) with a predominance of invasive nonspecific type carcinoma (92.34%). These cancers were diagnosed at late stage III using Nottingham grading (55.10%). The TNM classification showed a predominance of grades T2NxMx (72.45%) and T4N1Mx (17.76%). The luminal B profile (40.85%) was found mostly, and the mutation of BRCA2 and BRCA1 genes was found in 2.61% of cases. Mastectomy was performed in 7.59%, radiotherapy in 3.61%, and chemotherapy in 18.66%. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer is a frequent pathology in Togolese women, predominant in young adults, often diagnosed at a late stage with limited possibilities of treatment. The establishment of early care programs is essential.

Association of Schistosomiasis with Cervical Cancer in Togo: the Consequence of this Association.

Objective of the study was to determine the association of cervical cancer association and schistosomiasis infection. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study of cases of cervical cancer and identified cases associated with schistosomiasis. A total of 1027 cases of cervical cancer were collected, and 19 cases revealed an association with schistosomiasis. This association was mainly related to squamous carcinoma with 18/19 cases. All patients were from rural areas. Of the 19 cases of association, 17 cases showed signs of HPV infection. Our data show a high degree of HPV infection that causes cervical cancer and not schistosomiasis.

Primary ovarian angiosarcoma in a 12- year -old girl: a case report of an exceptional localization in a context of limited resources country.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian sarcomas represent less than 1% of all ovary cancers and usually are frequent in adults. Primary angiosarcomas are exceptional in the ovaries within children. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a case of primary ovarian angiosarcoma in a 12-year-old girl in a resource-constrained context. Immunohistochemistry study showed the positivity of CD34, CD31, factor VIII, while S100 was negative. The diagnosis of primary non-metastatic angiosarcoma was retained. She was unable to undergo the CWS-2002P chemotherapy since her parents could not afford it. CONCLUSION: This case report described a rare type of a primary ovarian angiosarcoma within a child, diagnosed in a low-income country in a laboratory with limited resources.