Management of Inflammatory Breast Cancers in Subsaharian Africa Context

Objective: To report the experience of Gynecology Department of the University Hospital of Treichville in the management of the inflammatory breast cancers. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study on cases of the inflammatory breast cancers managed in the Gynecology Department of the University Hospital of Treichville, from January 2011 to December 2015. Results: We collected 44 cases of inflammatory breast cancer representing 17.9% of all breast cancers. The average age of patients was 46.5 years (32 - 70 years) and among them, the majority had inadequate socioeconomic level (90.9%). The risk factor for cancer found in the majority of patients was the age of first menstrual periods before the age of 12 years (52.3%). The average consultation time was long (10 months) and several patients had extensive inflammatory signs (38.6%), with lymph node involvement (84.1%) and metastases (36.4%). At the histological analysis, the most common type was invasive ductal carcinoma (81.8%), SBR grade III (54.5%). Regarding treatment, mastectomy according to Patey associated with a chemotherapy was performed in 22.7% cases. The evolution has been marked by an overall 5-year survival of 20%. Conclusion: The management of inflammatory breast cancers was late and incomplete in our service making poor prognosis.