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Clinicopathological characteristics of non palpable breast cancer presenting as an axillary Mass

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Abstract

We present the clinical and pathological findings of non-palpable breast cancer presenting an axillary mass in 8 patients at the National Cancer Center Hospital and in 89 cases previously reported in Japan. Mammography and ultrasonography were positive in 26.4% and 26.8% of cases, respectively. 82 (94.3%) of 87 patients underwent mastectomy as a local control. In 19 (30.6%) of 62 patients, the pathological size of the lesion was less than 5 mm. In 15 patients primary tumors could not be identified pathologically. The number of nodes involved ranged from 1–55 with a median of 5. There was no significant correlation between the number of involved nodes and the size of the axillary mass, nor between the number of involved nodes and the pathological size of the primary breast lesion. The 5-year survival rate was 59.4%. There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year survival rates between occult breast cancer and palpable breast cancer in each nodal category. Only the number of involved nodes was a reliable prognostic factor. Unlike palpable breast cancer, the pathological size of the primary tumor was not a predictor of prognosis. In this respect, the biological behavior of occult breast cancer is quite different from that of palpable breast cancer.

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Abbreviations

NCCH:

ational Cancer Center Hospital

Ca:

Carcinoma

No:

Number

Yrs:

Years

Mos:

Months

NS:

Not significant

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, 104, Tokyo, Japan

    Takanori Kyokane, Sadako Akashi-Tanaka, Takashi Matsui & Takashi Fukutomi

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  1. Takanori Kyokane
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  2. Sadako Akashi-Tanaka
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  3. Takashi Matsui
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  4. Takashi Fukutomi
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Kyokane, T., Akashi-Tanaka, S., Matsui, T. et al. Clinicopathological characteristics of non palpable breast cancer presenting as an axillary Mass. Breast Cancer 2, 105–112 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02966948

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02966948

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