Surgical treatment for chest wall recurrence of breast cancer.

From 1977 to 1987, 23 patients with isolated chest wall recurrence, excluding sternal metastasis, from breast cancer underwent full thickness chest wall resection. The 5-year survival rate after chest wall resection was 48% but the 5-year relapse-free survival rate was 26%. Mediastinal metastasis was proved histologically at the time of chest wall resection in 7 patients, and survival period with mediastinal involvement was significantly (P less than 0.01) shorter than that with no mediastinal involvement (n = 16). In 17 patients with a long disease-free interval (DFI greater than or equal to 24 months), survival was longer than in 6 patients with a short DFI (less than 24 months). For the selected patients without mediastinal involvement and long DFI, surgical treatment for chest wall recurrence of breast cancer should play a significant role in improving the quality of life, and even in prolonging the survival rate.