[Prognostic factors in breast cancer--classification in non-university hospitals]

Prognostic factors in breast cancer have been frequently discussed in the oncologic literature. We reviewed our data of 795 patients who were referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology of the University of Wuerzburg between 1978 and 1988 in order to find out, whether the well known and proven prognostic factors in breast cancer were sufficiently in use in clinical routine, even out of university oncologic centres. We found, that beside of determination of the histological tumor-type the assessment of tumor size (= pT-status) and axillary (= pN-)status is performed nowadays in all patients. In contrary, the determination of the hormonal receptor status (HRS) had a slow beginning. From 1980 the rate of determinated HRS arose from 5% to 80% nowadays. The demand of removal and examination of at least 12 axillary lymph nodes in axillary dissection in order to determine correctly the axillary status is not yet part of the oncological routine. In 1988 in only 40% of the referred patients axillary diagnosis was done in a manner corresponding to international rules.