Surgery for local recurrences following deficient radical mastectomy for breast cancer: a selected series of 39 cases.

Thirty-nine patients with locally recurrent cancer, previously treated elsewhere by mastectomy, were considered. At clinical examination, doubts arose as to the efficiency of previously performed mastectomies. Recurrent lesions, in the absence of distant metastases, were nodular, cutaneous or subcutaneous, in the area of previous 'radical mastectomy'. Second surgery consisted of a wide excision together with a surgical revision of axilla. No radiotherapy was administered to the thoracic wall after surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy (CMF) was given to 26 node-positive women. Median follow-up was 48 months. Pathological reports showed that portions of mammary gland and axillary lymph nodes had been left behind by primary surgery in 29 and 34 cases, respectively. In 26 cases lymph nodes were metastatically involved. Local control has been maintained in 32 patients, 21 of whom are alive and free of disease.