Does tumor size in T1-T2 early breast cancer (EBC) still have a prognostic role?

e12087Background: Theprognosis of EBC patients (pts) depends on pts characteristics and tumor biological/ histopathological features. The correlation between tumor size, expressed as the largest diameter in TNM staging, and overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) is well recognized. According to TNM, tumors classified as T2, could have different volumes (V); e.g. a tumor of 2,1 cm has a V of 4500 mm3, while a tumor of 4,9 cm has a V of 60000 mm3. Despite belonging to the same class, the two different V may have a different prognosis. The aim of the study is to establish if the role of tumor size has been surpassed by other factors. Methods: The purpose is to evaluate the correlation between V and DFS/OS, in a T1-T2 population, who underwent breast surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy, in our institution from 01.01.2005 to 30.09.2013. V was evaluated with the measurement of three half-diameters of the tumor (a, b and c), and calculated with this formula: 4/3 * π * a * b * c. Results: 341 pt...