Conservative treatment of axillary adenopathy due to probable subclinical breast cancer
J. R. Vilcoq, R. Calle, F. Ferme and F. Veith
Eleven female patients were treated conservatively by radical radiotherapy
to the breast and ipsilateral lymphatics for metastatic adenocarcinoma in
an axillary lymph node without clinical or mammographic evidence of a
breast cancer. Ten of 11, four of five, and three of four were alive and
free of disease 5, 10, and 15 years later, respectively. Of the 11 patients
who were followed up for a minimum of five years, three (27%) had local
recurrences: one at six, one at 11, and one at 14 years. The latter two
recurrences were salvaged by secondary mastectomy. The cosmetic results
were excellent and no serious irradiation complications were observed.
Mastectomy may not be needed for patients with axillary adenopathy due to a
probable subclinical breast cancer, since the long-term prognosis after
radiotherapy is good and salvage surgery can be performed if recurrences
develop.
