Abstract
There are 592 primary cases of cancer of the breast which have undergone operation at the Shikoku National Cancer Center Hospital in the past 13 years.
Using 328 cases which underwent operation more than five years earlier as the subject, we studied the significance, indication and influence of the postoperative irradiation.
The survival rate was slightly better in the non-irradiation group (73 cases) than the irradiation group (255 cases), with the 5-year survival rate being 75.0% for the former and 71.6% for the latter and the 10-year survial rate 68.6% and 62.8% respectively.
When compared by the stage of illness, however, there was no difference between the two group.
The case of recurrence in the field of irradiation, particularly recurrence in the para-sternal region was few in the irradiation group. Edema in the upper limb, pain and motor disturbance were often found in the irradiation group.
Postoperative irradiation has no advantage when viewed from the survival rate, but can be expected to prevent recurrence in the irradiated area to some extent.
The incidence of parasternal lymph node metastasis is high in cases in which there are more than four metastases to axillary lymph nodes and the primary lesion measures than 5.1cm and is located on the medial side or in the center, judging from results of removal of parasternal lymph nodes in 414 cases.
Postoperative irradiation to the parasternal region and supraclavicular fossa appears necessary in such cases.
