Possible factors in remote metastases in female breast cancer

The association of metastases (M) with age of patient, stage of disease, the gross and microscopic characteristics of the primary tumor, its physical location, the postradiational status of the breast, the extent and level of histological nodal involvement, the type of surgery practiced, and the host's biological environment are analysed. The authors conclude that the critical factor in systemic dissemination in female breast cancer is the extent and level of metastatic nodal involvement. Though the association between stage of disease, character of tumor (T), and histology are significant, the cruicial factor seems to be the nodal involvement. Systemic metastases are significantly higher in inner quadrant tumors. Possible methods of circumventing this dissemination are discussed.