Conservation surgery in cases of carcinoma breast

Breast conservation surgery is now widely used in place of mastectomy for small tumors. This interventional descriptive study was conducted in Surgical Ward II, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi to assess the results of surgical treatment and radiation therapy in the management of early breast cancer. A total of 150 patients were seen with Carcinoma Breast between April 2001 to April 2004, the diagnosis being made on mammography, FNAC and trucut biopsy. Out of these Breast conservation surgery was possible only in 20 patients; 60% had a tumor size of 2-3 cms and 70% a histological grade of II. In addition to axillary dissection all patients received radiotherapy, while chemotherapy was given to 15 patients. None of the patients had a recurrence in the 8-36 months follow up. We conclude that conservation surgery has a definite place in the management of Stage I and II of Carcinoma breast. However, long term follow-up is needed to establish its efficacy in terms of recurrence rates and survival, and is worth-exploring