[Stages of breast cancer].

A comparative analysis of several systems of the assessment of the degree of spreading of malignant process is presented in the article. Stage principles of malignant neoplasms, which are used by the National Cancer Register do not respond current requirements as these principles do not single out preinvasive carcinoma and even more patients with I and II stages malignant neoplasms are brought into one group. Last reduction of the International TNM breast cancer classification (2002, TNM-6) reflects further progress in understanding biology of this localization and possibilities of the diagnostics.