[Lymphedema of the arm after mastectomy--symptom of a recurrence?].

From 1972 to 1976, 488 women suffering from cancer of the female breast underwent uniform surgical treatment (Rotter-Halsted-operation), no postoperative irradiation. In 62 cases (12,7%) a lymphoedema could be observed. The author holds the opinion that the oedema of the equilateral arm is caused by dissemination of cancer cells and depends on tumour stage and not the specific kind of treatment.