Source
Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Tubular carcinoma (TC) of the breast is an uncommon subtype associated with a favorable prognosis. This study aimed to assess recent trends and prognostic features in the treatment of TC.
METHODS:
We performed a retrospective review of cases of TC of the breast treated between 1997 and 2004.
RESULTS:
We identified 111 cases of TC of the breast. The median patient age at diagnosis was 55 years, and the median follow-up period was 72 months. Breast-conservation surgery was performed in 75% (83 of 111) of patients. Axillary staging was performed in 80% (89 of 111). Nine (8.1%) were found to be node-positive. Node positivity was associated with larger tumor size (P = .003). All node-positive tumors were greater than 1 cm. One patient developed an in-breast recurrence. No patient developed distant metastases or died from breast cancer.
CONCLUSIONS:
In this series of TC, the locoregional recurrence rate was low and no patient developed distant metastases. Surgical staging of the axilla may not be necessary in lesions measuring 1 cm or less.