Radiation as primary treatment for local control of breast carcinoma. A progress report.

One hundred patients with localized breast carcinoma have been treated by radiation alone from July 1, 1968, until June 30, 1973, at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy. Patients were referred for many reasons, including changing opinions as to the indications for mastectomy. External beam therapy to the tumor bearing volume and its regional nodal chains has been frequently supplemented by iridium 192 interstitial implantation. Local control has been excellent, particularly in early stage disease. Regionally advanced mammary carcinoma, despite apparently adequate local therapy, demonstrates a rapidly falling survival curve, suggesting the need for early systemic chemotherapy.