The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Effect of radiotherapy after mastectomy and axillary surgery on 10-year recurrence and 20-year breast cancer mortality: meta-analysis of individual patient data for 8315 women in 22 randomised trials. Lancet 2014; 383: 2127-2135.

Published: 13th November 2014

Authors: Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group

Conclusion

This meta-analysis of 22 trials included 3786 women. Radiotherapy reduced both local recurrence and breast cancer-related mortality (relative risk 0.8, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.67 to 0.95) in women with 1-3 positive axillary nodes, even when additional systemic therapy was given.

Pubmed Link