Abstract: | Between 1986 and 1990 23% more patients with carcinomas of the breast were treated in the Gynaecological Hospital of the Municipal Hospital (St?dt. Krankenanstalten) of Krefeld than during the comparative period between 1976 and 1980. Simultaneously, an increase of carcinomas metastasising the further course of the disease were observed. When analysing the possible reasons it can be noticed that in the first group (1986 to 1990) compared to the second group (1976 to 1980) multifocal and lobular carcinomas were observed more frequently with regard to their statistical significance. The same applies to the metastatic involvement of axillary and infraclavicular lymphodes. It was noticed that in the first group, lymphangiosis and hemangiosis carcinomatosa were seen more frequently than in the second group. The collected data suggest that in case of an increase in carcinomas of the breast, a larger number of tumours with prognostically unfavourable tumour criteria is seen. |