Patterns of Breast Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Breast cancer is a major health problem that affects more than one million women each year globally. About half the breast cancer cases and 60% of the deaths are estimated to occur in economically low and middle income countries. This study aims to explore the epidemiologic patterns of breast cancer in Iran to identify the challenges and management problems in Iran.Method: A systemtic search of published papers during 1995 to 2012 was conducted. Electronic databases including Pubmed , ISI , Scopus , Science direct , Sid and papers presented in congress were serarched for breast cancer. We used the following keywords singularly and in combination, Breast cancer , Breast malignancy , Breast neoplasms , Breast tumor , Epidemiology , Incidence rate , Pathology and clinical features and Iran . Reference list of relevent articles also were searched mannually.Result: The most common cancer in women was breast cancer in all provinces except Ardebile and Kohkiloueh & Boyerahmad. Age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer was 28.25 per 100000 persons. The majority of cancer cases were in age range 42-49.4 (45.2+/-3.2) years of age, moreover, mean age has not changed in the last 20 years. More than two -third of cases were diagnosed in stage II and III, and upper stages. The most frequent pathological presentation were: infiltrative ductal carcinomay (about two-third), followed by invasive ductal carcinomay (about one-third).Conclusion: Early-onset of breast cancer among women in Iran which is at least a decade earlier than developed countries is a major health chalenge. Implementation of an organised screening is highly recommended.

Keywords:

Breast cancer , Epidemiology , Pathology and clinical features , Iran