CONTROLATERAL AXILLARY NODAL METASTASES OF BREAST-CANCER

Controlateral axillary metastases (CAM) of breast cancer ave uncommon, they state some diagnostics and therapeutics problems. From February 1993 until June 1996, 6 cases of CAM were detected in 123 women having a breast's cancer (4,9%). The diagnostic of CAM, was retained after a normal clinical and mammographic examination of ipsilateral breast an d a anatomopathological proof confirming the carcinomatous infiltratio n of axillary ganglions. These metastases were synchronous for 3 patie nts and metachronous for the 3 others with an appearance's mean delay of 12 months. The 6 patients were treated for a breasts cancer locally advanced and a tumour with internal or central seat in 5 cares. The C AM were associated to others metastatic areas in 2 patients. Five pati ents have had a locoregional treatment of CAM (curage and/or axillary radiotherapy), associated to chemotherapy. The Gth patient, is multime tastatic, had refused the treatment Only 1 patient has developped a tu mor of ipsilateral breast after a mean delay of 7 months, others metas tatic localizations are appeared in 2 patients after a mean delay of 8 months. The CAM are considered a scare entity with physiopathological mecanism not yet well elucidated They are perhaps, the prerogative of advanced tumors and the often before metastatic spreading A problem r emains to be raised: is it a question of a veal CAM, or an expression of a ipsilateral breast's occult carcinomatous?.