Carter et al evaluated the prognosis for a large number of women with invasive breast cancer. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from National Cancer Institute and Department of Health Services for the State of Connecticut.
83% of cancers with invasive ductal, 7% lobular and the rest an admixture of subtypes.
Diameter in cm |
Number of Lymph Node Metastases |
5-Year Survival |
< 0.5 cm |
0 |
99% |
< 0.5 cm |
1 to 3 |
95% |
< 0.5 cm |
>= 4 |
59% |
0.5 to 0.9 cm |
0 |
98% |
0.5 to 0.9 cm |
1 to 3 |
94% |
0.5 to 0.9 cm |
>= 4 |
54% |
1.0 to 1.9 cm |
0 |
86% |
1.0 to 1.9 cm |
1 to 3 |
87% |
1.0 to 1.9 cm |
>= 4 |
67% |
2.0 to 2.9 cm |
0 |
92% |
2.0 to 2.9 cm |
1 to 3 |
83% |
2.0 to 2.9 cm |
>= 4 |
63% |
3.0 to 3.9 cm |
0 |
86% |
3.0 to 3.9 cm |
1 to 3 |
79% |
3.0 to 3.9 cm |
>= 4 |
57% |
4.0 to 4.9 cm |
0 |
85% |
4.0 to 4.9 cm |
1 to 3 |
70% |
4.0 to 4.9 cm |
>= 4 |
53% |
>= 5.0 cm |
0 |
82% |
>= 5.0 cm |
1 to 3 |
73% |
>= 5.0 cm |
>= 4 |
46% |
The authors also correlated the diameter of the tumor with the chance of have a lymph node metastases.
Diameter of Tumor in cm |
Percent with Lymph Node Metastases |
< 1.0 cm |
20% |
1.0 to 1.9 cm |
33% |
2.0 to 2.9 cm |
45% |
3.0 to 3.9 cm |
52% |
4.0 to 4.9 cm |
60% |
>= 5.0 cm |
70% |
Limitation:
• The data is from 1989. Survival with modern therapy may be better.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Obstetrics & Gynecology