[Efficacy of extrapleural internal mammary node dissection in breast cancer]

The results of extended radical mastectomy for breast cancer in 180 randomized patients treated at this department between 1965 and 1984 are reported. About 18% of the women with breast cancer had internal mammary lymph node metastasis. The incidence of metastasis in internal mammary lymph nodes increased from 9.5% when the tumor was locate in the outer half to 24.7% when it was in the center or inner half. The increase in the number of axillary lymph node metastasis was correlated with the increase in the incidence of internal mammary lymph node metastasis. The five-year survival rate of patients with no internal mammary lymph node involvement was better than that of involvement (81% versus 47%). But when the internal mammary nodes alone were involved without axillary lymph node metastasis, 83% of the patients survived for five years.