Inflammatory breast carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Inflammatory breast cancer [IBC] is a distinct clinico-pathological entity. It is a rare tumor which represents less than 5% of all breast cancers. It is known for its aggressive behavior and grave prognosis with high of local and regional recurrence and propensity for distant metastases. The use of induction combination chemotherapy as a part of multimodality treatment in IBC has significantly and favorably altered the natural history of this disease. Approximately 35-50% of IBC patients are now disease free and alive at 5 years when treated by a combined modality approach in sharp contrast to 0-2% survival at 5 years when treated only by local therapy. New strategies such as high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow rescue of growth factor support are being evaluated. This disease still poses many problems in oncology and the optimum management strategy has not yet been defined