Primary axillary radiotherapy as axillary treatment in breast-conserving therapy for patients with breast carcinoma and clinically negative axillary lymph nodes.

Background: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness and morbidity of primary axillary radiotherapy in breast-conserving therapy for postmenopausal, clinically axillary lymph node negative patients with early stage breast carcinoma.
Methods: Between 1983-1997, 105 patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes and breast carcinoma were treated with wide local excision followed by radiotherapy to the breast, and axillary and supraclavicular lymph node areas. Adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen was given to 75 patients. The median follow-up of patients still alive was 41 months (range, 8-137 months). Fifty-five patients with no evidence of disease at last follow-up were examined prospectively with respect to late functional damage.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 64 years. Three patients developed a local recurrence. No isolated axillary lymph node recurrence was observed. In two patients, axillary recurrence was accompanied by distant metastases. The 5-year disease free interval and the overall survival were 82% (standard error [SE], 6%) and 83% (SE, 6%), respectively. In five patients, arm edema was reported and impaired shoulder function was reported in seven patients. Prospectively scored, arm edema was reported subjectively by the patient in 4% and objectively measured in 11% of cases. Impaired shoulder function was reported subjectively in 35% and objectively measured in 17% of cases. No brachial plexus neuropathy was noted.
Conclusions: Primary axillary radiotherapy for postmenopausal women with clinically lymph node negative, early stage breast carcinoma was found to result in low axillary lymph node recurrence rates with only limited late complications. Therefore, primary axillary radiotherapy should be considered as axillary treatment in selected patients as an alternative to axillary lymph node dissection.
(Copyright 2000 American Cancer Society.)