RECURRENCE AFTER CONSERVATIVE RADIOSURGER Y FOR BREAST-CANCER

From 1960 to 1989, 154 cases of recurrent breast cancer after conserva tive radiosurgery were treated at the Curie Institue. Relapse was disc overed at clinical examination in 88 % of the case and mammography was only useful in 45 %. In 18 cases (12 %) an unpalpable tumour was disc overed at mammography, especially for intragalactophoric tumors. Cytop uncture yielded a precise diagnosis in 83 % of the cases. Overal survi val rate after recurrence was 72 % at 5 years (62 % without metastasis ). Survival rate was better for late recurrence, and poorer in cases w ith subclinical axillary invasion. Neither age nor type of treatment h ad any effect on survival. Indications for general associated treatmen t are based on: the invasive character of the recurrent tumour; axilla ry invasion, tumour size and delay to recurrence after initial surgery .