Typical medullary carcinoma of the breast: a clinical and pathological analysis of 52 cases.

Fifty-two women with typical medullary breast carcinoma, diagnosed according to criteria of Ridolfi et al. [Cancer 40:1365-1385, 1977] are described. At the time of diagnosis, 90% of the patients were stages I and II. The primary tumor size was < or = to 4 cm in 46 (88.5%) and > 4 cm in 6 (11.5%) patients. Axillary lymph nodes were microscopically negative in 35 (67.3%) and positive in 17 (32.7%) patients. All 52 women underwent the Patey operation. Seventeen patients with microscopically positive axillary lymph nodes received postoperative irradiation. Of the 52 treated patients, 44 (84.6%) survived 10 years NED. The only prognostic factor was the microscopical axillary lymph nodes status. In the group of pNO patients, 97.1% survived 10 years NED, pN+ 58.8% only. The sole causes of unsuccessful treatment were distant metastases to lungs, hepar, and bones. Typical medullary carcinoma is a favorable histological type of breast carcinoma with very good prognosis for pNO patients.