[Axillary lymph node metastases as first manifestation of occult breast cancers]

Within a period of 8 years 12 women patients were referred to the authors with histologically established lymph node metastases in the axilla without a primary tumour being identified despite careful examination. Subsequent follow-up showed that the only possible cause in these patients was a primarily occult carcinoma of the breast. This rare manifestation of a carcinoma of the breast is discussed on the basis of the case reports and the literature with particular regard to the diagnostic and therapeutic problem involved.