Paracortical activity in the lymph nodes draining female breast carcinoma.

Three hundred and two female breast carcinomas were assessed histologically with special attention focused on the nuclear grade of the tumor, the stromal lymphocyte reaction and the morphology of the paracortical areas of the regional lymph nodes. These morphologic parameters were correlated with the 5-year survival data of the patients. Nuclear grade of the primary tumor was directly positively related to the 5-year survival as was the paracortical activity of the regional lymph nodes. The paracortical activity was inversely related to the frequency of nodal metastases which were a sign of poor prognosis. The value of the morphology of the regional lymph node paracortex in evaluating the criteria of host resistance in association with breast carcinoma is emphasized.