[The problem of the multifocal breast neoplasm]

Nowadays, it is accepted that mammary cancer does not represent a localized tumor only, but a bilateral disease of breast tissues. During a period of 6 years, bilateral manifestations of infiltrating cancer have been observed in 12.7% of all cases. 23.2% of all breast cancer patients had a unilaterial multicentric tumor. The implications of this phenomenon with regard to control and therapy are as follows: As early diagnosis of malignant breast tumors often is possible by means of mammography, this examination should be performed regulary in high-risk patients, especially in cases of known earlier malignancy of one breast. More radical surgery should have priority, in view of the frequently observed multicentricity of breast cancers.