[Prognostic analyses of occult breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prognosis of occult breast cancer.

METHODS

From January 1978 to December 2008, retrospective analyses were conducted for 205 female patients with axillary lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary source.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up time of 61 (4-158) months, the 5 and 10-year rates of disease-free survival (DFS) were 63.5% and 39.8% respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 10 years. And the 5 and 10-year OS were 79.8% and 49.4% respectively. Significant differences existed in medical history, family history, estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), infiltration of soft tissue, surgical option, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy with DFS of occult breast cancer (P < 0.05). The most important determinants of DFS and OS were ER, infiltration of soft tissue and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Radical mastectomy should be performed instead of modified radical mastectomy to improve the patient quality of life.