[Lymphatic axillary metastasis in cancer of the breast]

From 1978 at the Gynecology service of the Hospital Civil of Guadalajara we conducted a study with 50 patients with breast cancer in which we related the size tumor with some risk factors of breast cancer with axilar ganglionar metastasis. The average size of the tumor was 4.9 cm, 21 patients (42%) had evidence of ganglionar axilar metastasis, 64% were located in the upper-outer quadrant, the average age was 52.7 years, 52% were pre-menopausic, 20% had backgrounds of bening disease of the breast and 20% had familiar backgrounds of breast cancer. 31.8% of the tumors from 2-4 cm had axillar metastasis vs 52.2% of tumors from the upper-outer quadrant and 80% from the upper-outer and inner quadrant had axillar metastasis. Only in 33.3% of the patients under 40 years old, axillar metastasis was found. The hormonal state, the background of bening disease and familiar backgrounds of breast cancer had no relationship with the incidence of axillar ganglionar metastasis. In conclusion, axillar ganglionar metastasis has a direct relation with the size of the breast tumor and its location.