Background: This study aimed to analyse the possibility of surgical rescue of intrabreast tumour recurrence (IBTR) following conservative operation for breast cancer, i.e. quadrantectomy, axillary dissection and radiotherapy.
Methods: Of 2544 patients treated with this approach, 209 presented with an IBTR as the first and only sign of relapse. Some 197 patients were considered suitable for further surgery; 12 were inoperable. Six patients declined operation.
Results: Reoperative surgery was total mastectomy in 134 patients (70 per cent) and further local resection in 57 (30 per cent). Median follow-up after second surgery was 73 (range 1-192) months. The overall survival probability at 60 months was 70 per cent after mastectomy and 85 per cent following further local excision. There was no difference in disease-free survival between the two operative groups. Second IBTR was more common at 5 years in the re-excision group (19 versus 4 per cent).
Conclusion: Since the type of surgery did not seem to affect survival, breast conservation can be considered in selected patients with IBTR.