[Bilateral carcinoma of the breast]

The authors present 20 cases of bilateral breast cancer (2 synchronous) on 700 cases of breast cancer observed in 1974-1992 period. In most cases (17 on 20) the histologic type was the same for both tumours and in 15 cases was invasive ductal. The time interval to second diagnosis went from 24 to 144 months with a mean interval of 44 months. The limited number of cases observed by the Authors doesn't permit conclusions about the prognostic meaning of a second breast cancer but it is clear that the anamnestic evidence of a previous intervention for breast cancer requires careful control also of the contralateral breast.