NODAL TUMOR-GROWTH IN BREAST-CANCER - THE TIME-SPAN OF ITS BIOLOGICALPROGRESSION

This series of 1,154 women with unilateral breast carcinoma was treate d by modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection. Histologica l staging of nodal tumour growth in the axilla distinguished 4 populat ions in which the numbers of patients presenting for operation over th e months of the year differed markedly, The findings are used to devel op a hypothesis on nodal tumour growth in which the length of time nee ded to complete the growth sequence, from the entry of a micrometastas is to exit of tumour cells via the efferent nodal vessels, could be es timated. The results suggest that the timespan may be as much as 3 yea rs, and probably more.