[Results of treatment following breast-saving therapy: analysis of intramammary recurrence]

1,135 patients were subjected to conservation treatment of the breast between 1972 and April 1990. The probability of survival without relapses and metastases is 82.2% (5 years) or 72.1% (10 years), respectively. Local recurrence from relapses is 94.8% (5 years) or 88.9% (10 years), respectively. 31 patients developed an intramammary relapse, whereas 3 presented a renewed ductal in-situ manifestation, that was not considered to be a relapse. An unfavourable prognosis in respect of the rate of local relapses is considered to be dependent upon the size of the tumour. Other unfavourable factors are youthful age, concomitant DCIS formations, lymphangiosis carcinomatosa and "incomplete" resection (i.e. not including healthy tissue surrounding the tumour). These various "risk factors" are discussed on the basis of the literature and the authors' patient material.