[Results of the therapy of the carcinoma of the breast by partial mastectomy evaluation after over 15 years (author's transl)].

Between 1950 and 1960, 118 partial mastectomies in the treatment of early breast cancer have been carried out in four different techniques with block dissection and radiotherapy. The 5-10-15 year survivals were compared to a similar selection of 217 patients with radical operations. No significant differences could be found between the 5 and 10 years survival rates, but the number of patients living longer than 15 years is much higher following radical operation chiefly in the cases with stage II. It is probably caused by the double frequency of local recidives following partial mastectomy, and after their treatment no patients survived to the 15th year. Partial mastectomy is no routine procedure. It is carried out when the patient refuses radical operation. The partial mastectomy should be the subject of a controlled clinical study.