Background and objective.

Breast cancer is the malignancy with the highest incidence and prevalence worldwide (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), with growing rates. This is why any tissue removed from a breast (whatever the cause) must be properly analyzed.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of premalignant lesions and occult carcinoma in resected breast specimens operated for non-oncological reasons over a period of 5 years in the Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery Department at the Río Hortega University Hospital in Valladolid, Spain.

Methods.

We analyzed the breast resection specimens belonging to 253 patients without a clinical diagnosis of breast cancer, previously classified in groups of increasing theoretical risk of breast cancer, with the aim of identifying the prevalence of premalignant lesions and occult carcinoma in our population.

Results.

The prevalence of malignant lesions showed a progressive increase from the control group (2.25%): patients without personal history of breast neoplasia or genetic risk factor; to groups A (7,07%): patients with history of breast neoplasia; B (11.43%): patients with genetic risk factor; and C (16.67%): patients with history of breast neoplasia and genetic risk factor, with an average age at diagnosis of 48.11 years.

Conclusions.

The results correlate with the existing literature show that the casual finding of premalignant and malignant lesions in patients without a diagnosis of breast cancer is relatively common, especially in women with genetic risk factors and/or a prior diagnosis of breast cancer.

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