Abstract: patients with early breast cancer equal to or less than 4 cm in diameter were treated by lumpectomy prus radiotherapy. The results of snort-time follow-up showed that the 3-year recurrence, metastasis rates and mortality of the patients treated by lumpectomy were not significantly higher in comparison with the patients treated in the corresponding period by radical mastectomy （Lumpectomy group: 11.5% and 3.8%, radical group: 14.2% and 0%, P＜0.05, respectively）.The present results revealed that the short-time effects of lumpectomy plus radiotnerapy were similar to that of radical mastectomy in treatment of early breast cancer equal to or less than 4 cm in diameter.