[Which surgical methods are justified in breast cancer?]

Between 1978 and 1987, operations were performed for primary mammary carcinoma on 1,112 patients, 59.2 years in average age. One pre-menopausal and one post-menopausal peak were revealed by subdivision by age groups. General five-year survival rates were 72.95 per cent for all patients who had undergone surgery between 1978 and 1983 (n = 593) and 88.18 per cent for those with a tumour up to 20 mm in size (n = 220). Modified radical mastectomy is recommended as standard therapy, while small tumours should be tackled by lumpectomy.