Results of Trans-Sphenoidal Cryohypophysectomy for Carcinoma of the Breast

In 100 cases of widespread, disseminated carcinoma of the breast, with a follow-up between 14 and 40 months, overall remission rate after cryohypophysectomy was 40 per cent. Eighty-five of the patients are now dead, 25 after remission and all 60 who did not respond to hypophysectomy. The mean survival time of those who responded was 20.3 months as compared with four and four-tenths months for those who did not respond. A previous objective remission to either castration or hormone therapy or both was associated with an increased remission rate. Extensive previous chemotherapy was associated with a less favorable remission rate, regardless of prior history of hormone dependence of the tumor.