Oophorectomy in breast cancer

One of the first series that compares Radical Mastectomy alone and Radical Mastectomy plus OO has been reported by Hors'. The OS was better in the group with castration at the moment of mastectomy (primary). Kennedy, recently mentioned in a review by Juret, obtained an overall survival of 53.8 months in 79 patients with primary OO, and of 47.4 months in 96 patients with secondary OO. As can be seen the percentage is almost the same. In this report the disease-free interval was 40.2 months in the primary and 23.9 months in the secondary OO. Here a significant statistical difference is evident. Now, I would like to point out the significant, figures obtained in our first group (primary castration): scarcely 18% of metastases during the second year and 38.6% during the following eight years. In other words, if we expect recurrence or metastases in the order of 72.7% in patients without systemic treatment, the difference is absolutely significant compared with our first group (fig. 1, 2, 3). Let me say as a conclusion, that at the present time a very old procedure in the treatment of breast cancer already has an important place in its management. Maybe in the near future the approach in surgical procedure to the ovary will be different. We are working on that, in terms to be effective without adding psychological damage to this special group of young women with the dreadful Breast Carcinoma.