[Long-term results of mastectomy in surgically treatble cancers at the Institut Curie from 1960 to 1973].

Mastectomy remains the treatment of reference for breast cancer. Pre or post-operative radiotherapy was the only adjuvant therapy possible for many years. This series of 2166 cases, treated between 1960 and 1973, analyses the survival, loco-regional recurrence rate, metastases and complications as a function of initial UICC staging and the type of treatment chosen. With follow up periods ranging from 15 to 25 years, we have shown that the clinical course is marked by recurrences for metastases occurring principally between the 2nd and 5th year, and that the number of events occurring beyond 10 years is still considerable. This study justifies the long term surveillance of patients. The results of current therapies need to be assessed in relation to historical data with a sufficiently long follow up, in order to confirm their efficacy.