The role of computed tomography in the evaluation of post-mastectomy locally recurrent breast cancer.
The rate of post mastectomy local-regional recurrence of breast cancer has remained in the range of 10-30% for decades. The traditional treatment, external beam radiation therapy, is successful in eradicating local disease in most cases, but re-recurrences are seen in about 50% of patients. Since 1982, 33 patients with such recurrences have undergone evaluation with computed tomography (CT) at our institution as part of their diagnostic work-up. In 22/33 (67%), CT revealed unsuspected disease, and in 10 of these patients the radiation treatment plan had to be altered. These results, similar to three other published series, strongly suggest that CT is a necessary part of the work-up of patients with post-mastectomy local-regional recurrences. The significance of these findings with respect to the cause of post mastectomy local-regional failures is further discussed.
Rosenman
J
J
Dept. of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill 27514.
Churchill
C A
CA
Mauro
M A
MA
Parker
L A
LA
Newsome
J
J
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed