Lumpectomy or Mastectomy in Patients Presenting with Metastatic Disease

Metastatic breast cancer is generally considered to be an incurable disease, and in most studies, 5-year survival rates do not exceed 20%. Anatomic site of metastases correlates with survival: 5-year survival rate for breast cancer with only soft tissue metastases is 41%, with only bone metastases 23% and for visceral metastases only 13%. Resection of the primary fusion may influence survival in this situation. This chapter provides an overview of the relative merits of resecting the primary tumor in patients with metastatic breast cancer.