Breast conserving surgery and radiation in the treatment of operable breast cancer

Breast conserving treatment (BCT) is an alternative to mastectomy, and prospective randomized trials have demonstrated that BCT and radical mastectomy result in similar actuarial survival rates. BCT should fulfil two criteria: (1) it should afford the same local control of disease as radical mastectomy, and (2) it should offer clear cosmetic and psychological advantages. This paper reviews the current status of BCT in the treatment of breast cancer. The choice of a narrow marginal tumor excision with aggressive radiation versus a wide resection with a small dose of radiation is discussed. Although the narrower marginal excisions, such as tumorectomy or lumpectomy provide the best cosmetic results, they may not provide adequate local control even when combined with aggressive irradiation. Wide resections such as quadrantectomy combined with a smaller dose of radiation, results in adequate local control, but less satisfactory cosmetic results. Although body image is better preserved by BCT, a clear enhancement of the psychological well being has yet to be established. Nevertheless, with further improvement in surgical, radiological and chemotherapeutic techniques, BCT likely will be the treatment of choice in more and more patients with operable breast cancer.