Occult Carcinoma of Second Breast Following Mastectomy

Abstract

In 18 years six women were seen with metastatic carcinoma in contralateral axillary nodes some time after a radical mastectomy. With no other evidence of tumor, a second radical mastectomy was performed in six of the breasts, and new primary tumor was found in four. Two patients died of carcinoma, one is alive with metastatic disease six years after surgery, and three are alive and well 8,10, and 14 years after the second mastectomy.