Treatment of Pure Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast

Abstract

Abstract: A retrospective study of 63 cases of tubular breast carcinoma was performed to address issues of optimum therapy; in particular, the extent of surgery, the need for axillary lymph node dissection, and the need for postoperative radiation therapy. The patient's mean age at presentation was 57 years. The primary lesions were treated by local excision in 61% of cases and by some form of mastectomy in the remainder. Twenty-one patients were treated with radiation therapy after local excision. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed on 39 patients. The primary lesions ranged in size from 3 to 21 mm (mean 8 mm). Fifteen lesions were larger than 10 mm. Two patients had axillary lymph node metastases (5% of those were treated by axillary lymphadenectomy). These patients were 2 of 15 that had lesions larger than 10 mm. Therefore 13.3% of patients with tumors 10 mm or larger metastasized to axillary lymph nodes. In those two cases, the size of the primary tumor was 11 mm and 14 mm. All patients were free of disease at last follow-up (mean follow-up 4 years, 9 months; median follow-up 4 years). The study demonstrates excellent prognosis for patients with tubular breast carcinoma, regardless of the extent of the surgery, performance of axillary lymph node dissection, or administration of postoperative radiation therapy. Local excision may be adequate to control the primary disease and axillary lymph node dissection may not be necessary in patients with small lesions.