Breast conservation or mastectomy in breast cancer: factors affecting the choice of operation.

Background and aims: In the surgical treatment of breast cancer, breast conservation is considered preferable to mastectomy provided that certain prerequisites are fulfilled. This retrospective analysis reports those factors which affected the choice between operations.

Material and methods: In 1993, a total of 104 women were operated on for breast cancer or carcinoma in situ in the Department of Surgery, University Central Hospital of Turku. There was a palpable tumour in 75%. In 23% the disease was found at mammography screening.

Results and conclusions: Breast conservation was achieved in 24%. The proportion was about the same whether the disease was found at screening or clinically (27% and 23%). In the presence of a palpable tumour breast conservation tended to succeed slightly more often than in wire-guided operations (26% versus 19%).