Long term results with breast-conserving therapy for patients with early stage breast carcinoma in a community hospital setting.

BACKGROUND

Prospective randomized trials and retrospective reviews from academic centers have documented the success of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for patients with early stage breast carcinoma. The authors retrospectively reviewed the outcome of BCT for early stage breast carcinoma to determine the success of BCT at the study institution, a 1000-bed community hospital.

METHODS

Between January 1980 and December 1987, 400 cases of Stage I and II breast carcinoma were managed with BCT at the study institution. All patients were treated with an excisional biopsy. The axilla was surgically staged in 383 patients (96%). Postoperative treatment was composed of 45-50 gray (Gy) external beam irradiation to the whole breast and a boost to the tumor bed to at least 60 Gy in all patients. The median follow-up of the 292 surviving patients is 118 months.

RESULTS

At last follow-up, there were 37 local recurrences for 5- and 10-year actuarial rates of 4% and 10%, respectively. Clinical, pathologic, and treatment-related factors were analyzed for an association with local recurrence. On univariate analysis, patient age < or = 35 years and positive surgical margins were associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. On multivariate analysis, only patient age < or = 35 years remained significant. The 10-year actuarial regional recurrence rate was 5%. The 10-year actuarial cause specific survival rate was 91% and 69% for Stage I and II patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BCT for patients with early stage breast carcinoma in a community hospital setting produces excellent results comparable to contemporary series reported from academic institutions and multiinstitution trials.