[Matched-pair analysis--technic and results demonstrated on the example of breast cancer]

The matched pair analysis is a well-known, but rarely used method. This method is recommended for the following problems: preparation of a controlled clinical experiment based upon the results of a retrospective analysis of results of therapy; analysis of results from a controlled clinical experiment in sub-groups; influence of non-therapeutic factors on the prognosis; epidemiological problems and study of the course of diseases. A matched pair analysis of about 300 female patients with breast carcinoma failed to show significant differences between (a) radical mastectomy alone, (b) radical mastectomy followed by chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, and (c) preoperative irradiation followed by radical mastectomy.