Preliminary Results of Quadrantectomy and Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Between November 1987 and December 1992, a total of 200 breast carcinomas in 199 patients were treated by definitive radiation therapy following quadrantectomy and level III axillary dissection. One patient with sumultaneous bilateral breast cancers was excluded and 198 patients with breast cancer were enrolled in this study. There were 9 Stage 0, 117 Stage I and 72 Stage II tumors by the UICC tumor classification system (1987). Histological examination revealed that 9 tumors were non-invasive carcinomas and 189 were invasive carcinomas. For radiation therapy, a total of 50 Gy was delivered to the ipsilateral breast using &sup60;Co gamma rays. In three cases with level III lymph node involvement, the ipsilateral supraclavicular and parasternal regions were also irradiated. Boost irradiation was given to 8 of 12 margin-positive patients, and 2 of 24 patients in whom tumor cells were present within 5 mm from the margin. We used a CT simulator for the treatment planning of radiation therapy in 196 tumors. During follow-up for 16-77 months (median: 35 months), 2 patients died of unrelated causes and 6 developed distant metastasis (4 to bone and 2 to lung). Local recurrence was noted in 1 patient. Acute reactions to radiation therapy included moist desquamation involving the tip of the breast and the axilla in 14 and 5 patients, respectively, as well as bright erythema in 7 patients. Late reactions included arm edema in 12 patients, patchy depigmentation at the tip of the breast in 5 patients, moderate telangiectasia in 1 patient, and symptomatic radiationpneumonitis in 1 patient. The actuarial overall survival, cause-specific survival, disease-free survival, and relapse-free survival rates at 5 years were 97.2%, 100%, 93.5%, and 93.0%, respectively. This excellent locoregional control, together with a highly acceptable toxicity strongly suggests the usefulness of quadrantectomy and radiation therapy for Japanese women with breast cancer. The possible indications include clinical Stage 0 and, I breast cancer, and clinical Stage II cancer in patients with relatively large breasts and with the primary tumor not located close to the nipple.