Inflammatory breast cancer: A review from our experience

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mele, Marco^a; | Sørensen, Anne Schmidt^a | Bruun, Josephine^a | Funder, Jonas Amstrup^b | Tramm, Trine^c | Bodilsen, Anne^a | Nielsen, Hanne Melgaard^d | Christiansen, Peer M.^a

Affiliations: [a] Breast Surgery Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark/Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark | [b] Department of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark | [c] Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark | [d] Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Marco Mele. E-mail: mele_marco@hotmail.com

Abstract: INTRODUCTION:Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a distinct and rare type of breast cancer accounting for up to 6% of all breast cancer cases in Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate diagnostic methods, treatments, and outcome after IBC in patients treated at a single institution in Denmark. METHOD:All patients treated for IBC at Aarhus University Hospital between 2000 and 2014 were identified and included in the cohort. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank statistics. RESULTS:A total of 89 patients were identified with a median follow up of 3.6 years. The overall survival at 5 and 10 years were 41% and 18%, respectively. The disease free survival at 5 and 10 years were 47% and 27%, respectively. Thirty-four percent had distant metastasis at time of diagnosis. Patients with ER positive tumors had a significantly better overall survival than patients with ER negative tumors (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION:Despite a more aggressive systemic and loco-regional treatment today, IBC is still a very serious disease with a high mortality.

Keywords: Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), metastases, inflammation

DOI: 10.3233/BD-180365

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 47-55, 2019