[Follow-up of node-negative patients with breast cancer]

In 136 cases of nodal-negative breast cancer, the further course regarding the incidence of metastases or recurrence was observe over a period of up to 83 months. Parameters have been tumor size, location, grading, the number of extirpated lymphatic nodules, hormone receptor status, and menopause status. After a mean observation period of 3.5 years, distant metastases had appeared in 23 cases = 16.9%. In this collective, the recurrence rate in premenopausal patients was 17.4% in postmenopausal patients ones 16.7%. An interesting trend became apparent in correlation between relapse and conducted primary therapy: All patients with tumor stage T1 who had received chemotherapy - at least one cycle of CMF - were free of relapse partially over the complete observation period. Regarding the fact that early hematogenous dissemination is also possible without involvement of regional lymphatic nodules, at least a perioperative chemotherapy appears useful. Definite statements concerning usefulness and efficiency of this mode of therapy however are only possible after evaluation of results of controlled studies.