[Occult breast cancer: 9 cases report and review]

From 1977 to 1994, 9 breast cancer were treated. All patients presented axillary node enlargement as first sign. Six patients were treated by radical or modified radical mastectomy and 3 by axillary node excision. All patients received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Among the 6 patients treated by radical or modified radical mastectomy, 4 survived over 10 years after surgery, 1 died of heart disease at 8 years, and 1 on chemotherapy is for 4 months. The three patients treated by axillary node excision, all died of the disease at 8-32 months. It is considered that radical or modified radical mastectomy with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is a suitable treatment selection for occult breast cancer.