title: Surgical treatment of primary breast cancer.
abstract: The background to the Halstedian era of breast cancer treatment is sketched, and the development of the changes in surgical treatment are outlined, with a review of the most important findings from the several clinical trials conducted to evaluate the alternative operative procedures. Included is a short description of operative techniques; also pathological examination of the operation specimen, and the use of radiation therapy when performing a segmental mastectomy are briefly described. This review is based almost entirely on observations from clinical trials conducted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wickerham
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental