Study into the incidence of local recidivation of the mammary carcinoma following surgery and irradiation

Averaged data for all tumour stages have shown that local recidivitation of mammary carcinomas occurs in 25-30% of patients, if ablation remains the sole method of treatment used. In a large number of those patients, metastisation is diagnosed simultaneously with the recurrent tumour. Percutaneous irradiation of the thoracic wall and, if required, of the regional lymphatic vessels may help to radically reduce the incidence of local recidivation. This measure can therefore also be expected to have a favourable influence on general outcome and life expectancy of the patients. (orig.)