Postoperative radiation therapy for "early" carcinoma of the breast

Two hundred and twenty-five cases of "early" carcinoma of the breast, showing no evidence of axillary lymph node metastasis, are presented. One hundred and thirty-six of these patients were treated by radical mastectomy only, and 89 received postoperative radiation therapy to the ipsilateral internal mammary and supraclavicular regions. The routine use of postoperative radiation therapy of all patients in this group is not warranted. Patients with inner quadrant and central or subareolar primary lesions benefit from postoperative radiation therapy with a 10 to 21% increase in the disease-free survival at ten years. Deep-seated tumors, irrespective of size and location, should also be considered for postoperative radiation therapy to the regional lymphatic chain and the ipsilateral chest wall.