FACTORS INFLUENCING SURVIVAL IN INFILTRATING LOBULAR CARCINOMA OF THEBREAST

Seventy cases of infiltrating lobular (IL) carcinoma of the breast pre senting to Hahnemann University Hospital between 1965 and 1990 were re ported. This comprised 2.4 per cent of the total number of breast canc er cases during that time period. Fifty-seven of these tumors were pur e IL carcinoma, while 13 had both IL and infiltrating ductal character istics. Two-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were not influenc ed by stage at the time of presentation, histology, nor operation perf ormed. Though a statistically significant trend toward breast conserva tion surgery was documented over time, there was no significant relati onship between operation performed and survival. This was true for bot h localized and nodal-metastatic disease. Overall survival was essenti ally equivalent to that reported for infiltrating ductal carcinoma.