incidence ofphantom breast syndrome and its clinicai characteristics

Abstract

The
"phantom breast syndrome" observed after mastectomy is not well known among
health care professionais. The objective ofthis retrospective study is to evaiuate the incidence
of phantom breast syndrome and its characteristics. Sixty-eight mastectomized women were
interviewed by a standardized questionnaire, taking into consideration age, maritai status,
pregnancy, number of deiiveries, breast-feeding, histoiogy of the tumor, radiotherapy and/or
chemotherapy. As to the syndrome, questions reiated to the presence, time of onset and
duration, intensity of pain, improvement or worsening factors and the presence of emotionai
symptoms were asked. The variabies were anaiyzed by descriptive statistics and Mann- Whitney
and Goodman non-parametric tests. Phantom breast sensation and pain were observed in 37
and 22 women, respectiveiy, whereas the phantom breast syndrome was observed in 14. Most
of th em were married, mean age was 55.7 years and mean weight was 65.2 kg. Pregnancy and
number of deiiveries prevaiied in 85.4% and 80.9% breast-fed theirchiidren. Infiitrating ductai
carcinoma was observed in 83.8% and radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in 89.7%. Emotionai
changes were observed in 38.3% of the patients. Due to the high incidence of physicai and
emotionai discomfort ca use d by the phantom breast sensation and/or pain, it is important that
they are diagnosed and treated.