Breast conservation management of breast tumors 4 cm or larger

Randomized studies of stage I and II breast cancer have shown that breast conservation treatment is equivalent to modified radical mastectomy in regard to local-regional control and survival. Little has been published on breast conservation for patients with large tumors. We analyzed 68 patients with tumors measuring 4 cm or larger (range, 4 to 12 cm) treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy. The median follow-up was 46 months; the mean tumor size was 5 cm. The 5-year actuarial local-regional recurrence rate was 8.5%, and the overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 76% and 68%, respectively. We conclude that breast conservation treatment may be a reasonable alternative to mastectomy in patients with tumors 4 cm or larger without compromise in local-regional control or survival, while achieving acceptable cosmesis.