PAGETS DISEASE OF BREAST - INFLUENCE OF PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF AN UNDERLYING PALPABLE TUMOR ON PROGNOSIS AND ON CHOICE OF TREATMENT

The 26 histologically verified cases of Paget’s disease of the breast treated at this clinic between the years 1944 and 1966 were followed up for prognosis and the possible influence of different kinds of treatment. The material was subdivided arbitrarily into two groups according to the presence or absence of a palpable tumor in the breast tissue underlying the nipple. The follow-up disclosed an unexpectedly great difference in survival between these two groups, in favor of the group where no underlying tumor was found on palpation. The 5-year survival rate in the former group was 83%, despite the fact that this group was treated by very conservative surgery and postoperative radiotherapy only, while all cases in the group with a palpable lump in the breast were treated by radical mastectomy with accompanying radiation, and in this group the 5-year survival was 0%. We are of the opinion that conservative operation and effective radiotherapy are recommendable for incipient cases of Paget’s disease of the female breast. © 1969 S. Karger AG, Basel.