PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF MULTIFOCALITY IN PRIMARY BREAST-CANCER

The impact of multicentricity in primary breast cancer on relapse or d eath after radical or modified radical mastectomy was evaluated in 133 6 consecutive patients. Multiple tumor foci were found in 11.7% of bre ast cancers: in 8.4% multicentricity was infiltrating, while in 3.3% o f cases an in situ growth pattern was observed. There was a statistica lly significant association between multicentric primaries and lobular infiltrating carcinoma, age less than or equal to 50 years, large tum ors and metastatic axillary nodes, while no relationship was observed with histological grade. Both 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival were shorter in patients with infiltrating multicentric prim ary tumors. Multivariate analysis confirmed the prognostic role of inf iltrating multicentric tumors after adjusting for nodal status, tumor size, age and adjuvant therapy.