[Diagnostic and therapeutic concepts in breast neoplasms]

Therapeutic decisions in breast cancer are no longer as simple and straightforward as they were. Radical masectomy has long ceased to be a routine application to every patient. A number of patients are now candidates for conservative surgery combined with irradiation. Patients who still require total mastectomy with axillary clearance may wish to undergo immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. In our department most patients with breast tumors are first seen in the outpatient clinic, where diagnostic work-up is completed and the therapeutic concept is discussed. If necessary, consultation with the radiotherapist and the plastic surgeon is available. Our diagnostic and therapeutic concepts are summarized in Fig. 1 and Table 1.