[Problems of a stage-based therapeutic approach to surgery in breast carcinoma (author's transl)]

A therapeutic concept dependent on staging of breast carcinoma is presented: 1. Stage T0-T1 N0 M0: wide local excision or quadrant resection with axillary lymph-node excision. 2. Stage T2 and T3 N0-N1: simple mastectomy (Patey). 3. Stage T4 or N2: radical mastectomy (Rotter). 4. Stage N3 or M1: tumour excision according to the T-stage, lymph-node excision, local excision of affected distant lymph nodes. With equal therapeutic results the smaller and cosmetically-preferable surgical procedure is to be recommended.