Primary irradiation in the management of early and locally advanced carcinoma of the breast

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Abstract
Between September 1, 1974 and July 31, 1979, 142 patients with a diagnosis of carcinoma of the breast were treated by a combination of megavoltage external irradiation and interstitial 192Ir implant. Patients (64) had T1 and T2 lesions and 78 patients had T3 and T4 lesions of the breast. Since June 1977, pre- and perimenopausal patients with T1 and T2 lesions have undergone axillary node dissection in addition to excisional biopsies of the breasts. All patients received external irradiation to the breast and regional lymph nodes and an interstitial implant boost to the primary site and residual axillary nodes. Most of the patients with positive axillary nodes and those with locally advanced disease received systemic chemotherapy. Sixty-two of 64 patients (97%) with T1 and T2 lesions and 72 of 78 (92%) patients with T3 and T4 lesions achieved ultimate loco-regional control. The minimum follow-up period was 48 mo.