[The problem of the internal mammary chain (author's transl)]

Two hundred and ninety patients operated for breast cancer underwent systematic resection of internal mammery chain. Block resection of this lymphatic drainage is performed without opening the thorax by a personal technique. We have shown these nodes can be involved whatever the site of the primitive tumor. Involvement depends on the local and regional extent of the tumor. Result of frozen section examinations of the mammary chains, internal and external, makes it possible to control and complete the clinical examination. We have thus formed a homogeneous series in which conservative treatment was applied with maximal chances of success.