The effect of adjuvant radiotherapy on the time of occurrence and prognosis of local recurrence in primary operable breast cancer

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted of all patients with an isolated locoregional recurrence of carcinoma of the breast after modified radical mastectomy was performed with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. The findings are summarized as follows: adjuvant radiation therapy delayed the appearance of local recurrence; there was no difference in the length of time to the diagnosis of distant dissemination between the irradiated and nonirradiated patients after the treatment of locoregional relapse. 35% of the irradiated patients and 25% of the nonirradiated patients remained clinically free of disease for relatively long periods after the treatment of locoregional relapse.