Locoregional recurrence after management of carcinoma breast

To determine the rate of locoregional recurrence, disease-free interval, site and pattern of locoregional recurrence and the significance of different factors for predicting locoregional recurrence in patients with stage II and III carcinoma breast.

Descriptive study.

Surgical Unit-1, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from September 2001 to December 2002.

Criteria for including patients in this study was female patients with stage II and III carcinoma breast who presented in our unit from 1995-2002 and underwent surgical (modified radical mastectomy, simple mastectomy with axillary sampling) and non-surgical (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy) treatment of carcinoma breast. Record of 98 patients was evaluated for rate of locoregional recurrence, disease-free interval, site and pattern of locoregional recurrence and different clinical factors like stage of carcinoma, tumour size, lymph node status and histopathology were assessed for association with locoregional recurrence.

After a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, 17 patients developed locoregional recurrence. Mean disease free interval in stage II was 30 months and only 9.5 months in stage III. Lymph node positivity was associated with locoregional recurrence (p-value<0.05). Chest wall was commonest site of recurrence (73%). Single spot recurrence was common in stage II whereas multiple spot recurrence and field change was more common in stage III. Addition of radiotherapy to surgery decreased the locoregional recurrence but chemotherapy had no significant effect on prevention of locoregional recurrence.

In this series 17.34 % patients developed locoregional recurrence for mean follow-up duration of 3.5 years. Mean disease-free interval was 20.52 months. Lymph node involvement had significant correlation with LRR.