Outcome after breast-conserving therapy for patients with stage I or II mucinous, medullary, or tubular breast carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the site of first failure of patients with early-stage tubular, mucinous, and medullary breast carcinoma after breast-conserving therapy and compare their results with those of patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC).


METHODS
Twenty clinical Stage I and II patients with mucinous carcinoma, 27 with medullary carcinoma, 28 with tubular carcinoma, and 1055 with IDC were identified. The minimal potential follow-up was 10 years.


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference (p = 0.15) was seen in the site of first failure between the four histologic types within the first 10 years after treatment. When the IDC tumors were omitted from the comparison, the failure patterns of the remaining three histologic types were not significantly different (p = 0.31). In a polychotomous logistic model, histologic type was not significantly associated with the site of first failure (all p >0.17). Local failure was significantly associated with age <50 years (p = 0.04), positive surgical margins (p = 0.007), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.04), and tumors with an extensive intraductal component (p <0.001). Regional/distant/opposite breast failure was significantly associated with clinical Stage T2 tumors (p <0.001), four or more positive lymph nodes (p = 0.004), and lymphovascular invasion-positive tumors (p <0.001). Second malignancy or death was significantly associated with age at diagnosis >60 years (p <0.001) and lymphovascular invasion-positive tumors (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
No statistically significant difference was noted in the site of first failure between patients with medullary, mucinous, or tubular carcinoma and patients with IDC. Although not statistically significant, we did note a trend toward a lower long-term rate of disease-free survival in patients with IDC.
Thurman
Sarah A
SA
Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA. sthurman@caregroup.harvard.edu
Schnitt
Stuart J
SJ
Connolly
James L
JL
Gelman
Rebecca
R
Silver
Barbara
B
Harris
Jay R
JR
Recht
Abram
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome