Surgery as part of a combined modality approach for inflammatory breast carcinoma

From November 1977 to February 1984 21 patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) were treated in a prospective, nonrandomized study with initial chemotherapy, consisting of a combination of chlorambucil, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin. Modified radical mastectomy was performed after three courses of chemotherapy followed by another six courses of the same chemotherapy. Locoregional radiotherapy concluded the treatment program. All patients responded clinically to the initial chemotherapy. Modified radical mastectomy provided a direct histologic control of the effectiveness of the treatment and, in case of tumor persistence, allowed cytoreduction. No scarring problems were observed and postoperative chemotherapy could be administered without any delay. Radiotherapy was decisive for locoregional tumor control which was obtained in all patients who were treated strictly according to the protocol. Dermal lymphatic involvement represented in this series of clinical inflammatory breast carcinoma no pejorative feature and positive hormone receptors failed to be of predictive value for response to treatment. Considerably variable tumor persistence after initial chemotherapy and the results relative to local tumor control advocate surgery as part of a combined modality approach for inflammatory breast carcinoma.