Long-term survival following postmastectomy locoregional recurrence of breast cancer

Only a few reports describe long-term survivors following locoregional recu rrence of breast cancer after mastectomy. We analyzed 145 patients who were treated for an isolated postmastectomy breast cancer recurrence at our dep artment between 1979 and 1992. All patients were free from distant metastas es at the time of recurrence. Nineteen of these patients remained free from distant metastases after a follow-up of more than 10 years following recur rence. Clinical and histopathological characteristics of these 19 patients were analyzed. Primary tumors were small with almost all being T-1 or T-2 p rimaries. The majority of survivors had negative axillary node status (16/1 9 [84%]). Locoregional recurrences were mainly chest wall recurrences (16/1 9 [84%]) and all recurrences were smaller than 5 cm (19/19). Only 7 patient s showed a typical scar recurrence. Sixteen patients had a single recurrent nodule. Early recurrences (< 1 year after mastectomy) were rare (n=2). Tre atment of recurrence consisted of tumor excision in all cases followed by r adiotherapy in 16 patients (including 6 patients who had undergone elective irradiation following mastectomy), hormonal therapy in 6 and chemotherapy in 1 case. In all patients local control at the recurrence site was achieve d. Cure after postmastectomy recurrence seems possible in a subgroup of pat ients (small primary tumor with negative axilla, small and solitary chest w all recurrence) provided adequate therapy is prescribed. Treatment of these patients should not be regarded as palliative therapy. (C) 1999 Harcourt P ublishers Ltd.