Prognostic importance of biopsies and two-phase operations in the surgery of breast carcinoma (question of surgical dissemination of cancer cells).
The authors performed interval operations in 217 cases of breast carcinoma at the Department of Surgery of the National Cancer Institute, Budapest between 1950 and 1958. The number of 15-year survival followed up was 111 (51%). During the same period, after 667 one-phase operations the number of survivals followed up for 15 years was 184 (27.6%). The significantly better results can be attributed to the fact that tumours (histological cancers) considered to be benign were removed by biopsy. Neither the time of the intervals nor the residual tumours did influence the better results. The prognosis of those operated on for solid carcinoma (c. simplex, and scirrhous) is less favourable. Permanent recovery can mostly be expected by premenopausal female patients with a slow-growing breast tumour of small diameter. In breast cancer patients operated on without haematogenous metastases the surgical dissemination of cancer cells will not give rise to metastases, since this has been prevented, during the long growth of the tumour, by the defence mechanism of the organism and this is not even reduced by the surgical intervention. Although the results of interval operations are promising it is still recommended that all nodes should be removed from the breast at an institute where a rapid histological frozen-section examination is available.
D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors