[Breast conservation treatment of early breast cancer--eight-year experience]

In the period between 1983 and 1991, we experienced 80 cases of early breast cancer treated by conservative surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Our indications for breast conservation treatment are the size of tumor (less than 2 cm), the location (more than 3 cm away from the nipple) and no palpable axillary nodes. Our surgical procedures of quadrantectomy and level I and II axillary dissection are presented. The shape of the skin incision should be elliptical with the major axis radial from the nipple for good cosmetic results. The entire quadrant of the breast containing the primary carcinoma is radically removed with the superficial pectoralis fascia. At present, one breast recurrence and two distant metastases have developed. A further follow up study is needed to prove the safety of breast conservation treatment.