[Lymph node recurrence in breast cancer. Report of 1,119 cases of infiltrating cancer]

To analyze the main determinants of lymph nodal recurrence in early breast cancer and to compare our results with literature data.Retrospective analysis of 1119 patients with stage I-II infiltrating breast cancer treated by conservative radiosurgical association from 1980 to 1992, with a 10-year median follow-up.The global rate of lymph nodal recurrence (LNR) was 2.7% (30 cases). Age under 40, high histoprognostic grade and previous local recurrence were the main risk factors of LNR. Axillary nodal involvement at time of diagnosis, number of lymph nodes sampled and tumor localization were not significantly related to LNR.Lymph nodal recurrences of early breast cancers are not frequent, but their prognosis is very unfavourable. A multidisciplinary approach of these LNR is necessary, taking into account previous treatments.