Breast cancer in women over 75 years: is axillary dissection always necessary?
OBJECTIVE
To study how the information gained from axillary dissection in women (75 years old or more) with breast cancer influenced postoperative adjuvant treatment.


METHODS
Retrospective review of casenotes.


METHODS
University departments of surgery and oncology, Sweden.


METHODS
166 women (aged 75 years or more) operated on for primary breast cancer between 1980-1989.


METHODS
Type of operation and postoperative therapy given.


RESULTS
In 138/166 (83%) women axillary dissection was done, but in only 21/59 (36%) of these patients did information gained from the procedure influence the postoperative treatment according to the treatment guidelines for breast cancer. None of the 28 patients who did not undergo axillary dissection were subjected to further operations or radiotherapy for axillary nodal recurrence after a mean follow up of 47 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Axillary dissection should be reserved for local control of disease and for those patients who preoperatively agree to undergo postoperative irradiation or chemotherapy if metastases are found.
Näslund
E
E
Department of Surgery, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Fernstad
R
R
Ekman
S
S
Schultz
I
I
Hjalmar
M L
ML
Askergren
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies