Prognostic factors for local recurrence in breast conservation therapy: residual cancers after lumpectomy

In order to evaluate the local residual cancer following breast conservation therapy (BCT) with lumpectomy, we investigated the relationships between residual cancer and age, tumor location, tumor diameter (T), mammography findings, nipple discharge findings, histopathological type, lymphatic and/or vascular invasion by tumor cells, histological grading, histological lymph node metastases (n), and estrogen receptor (ER) status, in 1494 patients with breast cancer that involved diagnostic excisional biopsy. Residual cancers were found in 581 of 1448 (40%) mastectomy specimens, after 46 (3.1%) with multicentricity had been excluded. No correlation was observed between residual cancer and age, histological grading, and ER. However, residual cancer rates were significantly higher in patients with: (1) tumor diameters of 3.1 cm or larger; (2) tumors beneath or in the vicinity of the nipple-areola; (3) malignant calcifications noted in mammography findings; (4) serous or bloody nipple discharge, particularly with positive cytologic findings; (5) papillotubular carcinoma diagnosed by biopsy, (6) lymphatic invasion by tumor cells; or (7) a high degree (n > or = 4) of lymph node metastases. The above seven clinicopathologic factors are thus considered useful prognostic indicators for local recurrence in BCT with lumpectomy.