Conservative Treatment of breast Cancer in Italy. A Survey

Abstract

The authors evaluated the diffusion of conservative treatment of breast cancer in Italian radiotherapy departments during 1984–1985. T1 and small T2 (less than 3 cm in maximal diameter) cases were particularly considered. Conservative surgery and radiotherapy of breast cancer was adopted in 88.4% of the Italian radiotherapy centers. Quadrantectomy and axillary dissection was the surgical procedure routinely adopted. Large differences emerged in radiation treatment among the different departments, particularly with regard to the irradiation of regional lymph nodes. A total of 1561 T1 and 279 T2 cases were submitted to a conservative treatment in 1984, and respectively 2185 and 334 in 1985. The 1985 versus 1984 increase in cases treated was 40% for T1 and 18% for T2.