[Recent changes in breast cancer surgery]

After former radical extensions the breast cancer surgery now tends to accept the necessary minimum principle. There are surveys which rated the local recurrence to the width of the intact margin around the tumour; they are aware of the decisive role of extensive intraductal component to have an influence on the local recurrence. Leaving out irradiation in selected groups is a part of the less aggressive tendency of breast cancer treatment. The omitment of the routine use of axillary dissection is under further consideration as well. The intraoperative mapping of lymph nodes looks promising in assessing their tumorous involvement. The prognostic role of dissection can be replaced by the immunoreactive hepatocyte growth factor. Timing of the operation adjusted to the menstrual phase seems to improve the survival in case of those patients who were operated on in the luteal phase.