[Long-term follow-up after tumorectomy and irradiation for breast cancer]

From 1968 to 1976, 31 patients underwent breast conservation surgery (tumorectomy) and irradiation. A review of the available pathologic slides has revealed that 11 of that number had definite breast cancer. Of these 11 patients, three experienced a relapse, one with local recurrence only, and two with distant metastasis, though one of these two also had a local recurrence. The patient manifesting a local recurrence only was salvaged by a mastectomy, while the other two with distant metastases have died. Survival and disease-free survival in these 11 patients were at least equal to the results of other Japanese patients of the same ages and stages who had undergone a halsted operation during the same period. As for the other 20 patients, either their pathologic slides were not available, or their diagnosis was equivocal or benign. None suffered a relapse. Cosmetic results were excellent in most patients, and there were no second malignancies in the treatment volume.