[The problem of limited treatment of carcinoma of the breast. Documentation of the results on 400 operative specimens (author's transl)].

The value of limited treatment without compulsory lymphadenectomy in carcinoma of the breast in only well documented for primary tumors in which the infiltrative size of the primary tumor is with certainly below one centimeter. In contra-distinction to this situation primary tumors of more than 2 cm. in size are characterized by macrometastases and metastases in the regional lymph nodes as well as intramammory lymphogenous spread by contiguity. Compared to the classical concept of indirect hemotogenous spread from the physiologic lymphatic drainage system via the deep veins of the neck, the validity of limited treatment can be seen in the operative specimen in the appropriate cases. Histology shows spread of the type of lymphohemotogenous shunts.