Carcinoma of the axillary tail of Spence: a case series

There is sparse information about cancer in the axillary tail of Spence (CATS). Eight hundred and thirty-nine patients with breast cancer were retrospectively studied for the occurrence of CATS. Ten patients were identified based on detection by imaging studies. A tendency towards stage II or III disease, and estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative neoplasms in the older age (>45 years) group was observed. Management by conservative or radical surgery, with or without postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, effected an estimated five-year disease-free survival rate of 67%, and rates of local failure, regional recurrence as well as distant metastasis of 0%, 10% and 30%, respectively. The treatment of CATS in accordance with modern day standards of care resulted in acceptable prognosis and disease control.