ASPETTI DOTTRINARI E CLINICI DEL CARCINOMA DELLA MAMMELLA

Abstract

308 malignant tumours of the breast (303 in women and 5 in men) histologically proved, observed in the Surgical Department of the « Ospedale Fatebenefratelli-Sorelle-Ciceri-Agnesi » of Milano from 1941 to 1956 are reported. Out of the 303 cases of the female sex, 301 were epithelial and 2 connectival malignomas. In women, the age distribution showed a highest frequency from 45 to 49 years; the left breast was found to be prevailingly affected (158 cases against 141 in the right breast); 3 cases of bilateral cancer were observed. The most involved quadrant was found to be the supero-external, followed by the supero-internal and the central one. From a clinical point of view, 92 cases were of the I stage, 123 of the II, 78 of the III; in 8 cases the stage was undetermined. Of the 227 cases operated upon, 191 underwent radical mastectomy according to Halsted, followed by postoperative roentgentherapy; 36 (all in the last five years) underwent simple mastectomy with roentgentherapy according to Mc Whirter. Out of the 191 radical cases, 117 showed axillary metastases. A histological differentiation between solid and adeno-carcinoma is of very little practical value, owing to the frequent concomitance of both microscopical features in the same case. Survival percentages in relation to clinical data, pathological findings and treatment could not be established because of the little number of long-term observations after the surgical procedure.