Inflammatory Breast Cancer: a Single Centre Analysis

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of locally advanced breast cancercharacterized by rapidly progressive breast erythema, pain and tenderness, oedema and paeu d’orangeappearance. It accounts for 1-3% of all newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer in the west. Data on IBC fromIndia are lacking. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical-pathological parameters and outcome of IBCat, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a large tertiary care centre. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: We screened 3,650breast cancer cases registered from January 2004 to December 2012 and found 41 cases of IBC. Data includeddemographics as well as clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics, and were collected fromclinical case records using the International Classification of Diseases code (C-50). Patients who presented withIBC as a recurrence, or who had a neglected and advanced breast cancer that simulated an IBC were excludedfrom this study. <br/><b>Results</b>: The median age was 45 years (range 23-66). The median duration of symptoms was5 months. The American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (AJCC) distribution was Stage III - 26 and IV - 15patients. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) positivity and human epidermal growth factorreceptor 2 (HER2/neu) positivity were 50%, 46% and 60%, respectively. Triple negativity was found in 15% of thecases. All the non metastatic IBC patients received anthracycline and/ or taxane based chemotherapy followed bymodified radical mastectomy , radiotherapy and hormonal therapy as indicated. Pathological complete remissionrate was 15%. At a median follow-up of 30 months, the 3 year relapse free survival and overall survival were30% and 40%respectively. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: IBC constituted 1.1% of all breast cancer patients at our centre. Onethird of these had metastatic disease at presentation. Hormone positivity and Her2 neu positivity were foundin 50% and 60% of the cases, respectively.