Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentations, and histopathological as well as immunological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of breast.

STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January 1997 to January 2017.

METHODOLOGY: Data of all patients, diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of breast over defined period of time, were collected and analysed with respect to their clinical presentation, histopathology and receptor status. Year-wise cases of SCC of breast were separated.

RESULTS: Thirty patients, diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of breast, were identified over a period of 20 years. There was an increase in number of cases diagnosed after 2007 as compared to before 2007. Moreover, 12 (40%) cases were hormonereceptor positive while 18 (60%) were of unknown status. Out of the total, 10 (33%) cases were well differentiated, 17 (57%)were moderately differentiated, while 3 (10%) were poorly differentiated. Seventeen (57%) cases presented as breast masses, 10 (33%) had skin ulceration in addition to breast mass, while 3 (10%) cases presented as fungating masses along with chest wall involvement.

CONCLUSION: There is an increased incidence of SCC of breast which can be due to better diagnostic facilities and more awareness amongst doctors about different varieties of breast cancers and their impact on the prognosis of disease.