Comparison of clinical features of occult breast cancer and non-occult breast cancer

Objective To compare the clinical features of occult breast cancer and non-occult breast cancer.Methods Clinical data of 96 patients with occult breast cancer treated in Tianjin Cancer Hospital from Jan 1981 to Dec 2000 were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the data of non-occult breast cancer patients who were sampled randomly in the same period.Results The ER-positive rates of occult breast cancer and non-occult breast cancer were 42.1% and 57.3%,respectively.The PR-positive rates of occult breast cancer and non-occult breast cancer were 44.3% and 55.9%,respectively.The recurrence and/or distant metastasis rates of occult breast cancer and non-occult breast cancer in different periods were 25.6%-66.7% and 13.5%-28.2%,respectively.The overall 5-and 10-year survival rates of the 96 patients were 55 % and 46%,respectively.The overall 5-year survival rates of stage 0-Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ of non-occult breast cancer patients were 94%,86% and 56%,respectively,and the overall 10-year survival rates were 86%,78% and 47%,respectively.Conclusion Compared with non-occult breast cancer patients,the patients of occult breast cancer have low ER/PR-positive rates,high recurrence and/or distant metastasis rates.The overall 5-and 10-year survival rates of occult breast cancer patients are similar to those of stage Ⅲ non-occult breast cancer.