Between 1981 and 1990, 346 patients with primary breast cancer were treated using breast conservation. Mean age was 55 +/- 13 years and median follow-up 53 months. 36.5% were in pathological Stage I, 55% in Stage II, and 4% in Stage III, while 4.5% were in clinical Stages I-II. 60% of the lesions were excised with good margins, 12% with close margins (0.5 cm), 2.5% with macroscopic residuals, 7.5% with microscopic residuals and 18% with margins that could not be determined. Level II lymph node dissection was performed in 334 patients (97%). Adjuvant therapy (combination of chemotherapy and/ or hormones) was given to 223 (64%). Radiotherapy, usually 50-55 Gy tangential photon irradiation to the whole breast, was given to 335 (97%); electron or photon "boost" to the tumor bed was given to 234 (70%); most patients received 20 Gy. Most node-positive patients received 50 Gy to the lymphatic drainage system. A year after completion of radiotherapy cosmetic results were rated as good in 195/212 (92%), moderate in 17/212 (8%), but in none as poor. 5-year actuarial survival was 90% for Stage I and 81% for Stage II disease. 24 (7%) developed breast recurrence, 8 of whom (2%) also had distant metastases; 5 (1.5%) developed supraclavicular lymph node metastases and 59 (17%) distant metastases. Predictors of poor survival or local recurrence were: age under 40 years, premenopausal status, multifocality, and blood/lymph vessel infiltration by tumor cells. The satisfactory level of local control achieved is attributed to the high doses of radiation administered in high-risk lesions (up to 70 Gy total tumor dose).