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Background
The current trend in breast cancer treatment is toward breast conservation and selective
use of axillary lymph node dissection. Patient eligiblity criteria for treatment without
axillary dissection are evolving.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the tumor registry over a 10-year period at Naval Medical
Center San Diego and included all women aged 70 and older with T1 breast carcinoma
(n = 78). Data included tumor size, surgical therapy, postoperative therapy, recurrence,
and survival. The women were divided into groups by the approach taken toward the
axilla.
Results
No patient was given adjuvant chemotherapy. There were no axillary cancer recurrences
in our patients. No statistically significant difference existed, regardless of the
approach to the axilla, in recurrence or survival between groups.
Conclusion
Axillary dissection in this population did not influence postoperative treatment,
decrease recurrence, or improve survival. Our study suggests breast cancer treatment
in this populationshould not include axillary dissection.
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References
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Article info
Footnotes
*Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Surgical Congress, Scottsdale, Arizona, April 28–May 1, 1996.
**The Chief, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, DC, Clinical Investigation Program sponsored this study #S-94-120, as required by HSETCINST 6000.41A. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defence, or the U.S. Government.
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Inc.
