Conservative surgery plus axillary radiotherapy vs. modified radical mastectomy in patients with stage I breast cancer.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of conservative surgery plus postoperative axillary radiotherapy without axillary lymph node dissection vs. modified radical mastectomy in patients with stage I breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, 186 patients with stage I breast cancer were enrolled. Among them, 98 patients underwent breast-conserving surgery without axillary node dissection. From the first day after surgery, each of them received 6 cycles of CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy, and thereafter radical radiotherapy for 5 to 6 weeks. Eighty-eight patients received modified radical mastectomy with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The clinical data of these 186 patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference (P > .05) in local recurrence and survival rates between the conservative plus axillary radiotherapy group and the modified radical mastectomy group, although a significantly greater incidence of upper limb dysfunction and edema were observed in the modified mastectomy group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of conservative surgery plus axillary radiotherapy alone is superior to that of axillary node dissection for stage I breast cancer patients.