Mammographic findings in breast cancer patients, who were treated with breast conserving therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the mammographic findings and role of detection of local recurrence in breast cancer patients, who underwent breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy.


METHODS
Descriptive retrospective study


METHODS
From 1988 to 1998, 78 women with early breast cancer (stage I, II) were treated with lumpectomy and axillary nodes resection, followed by radiation treatment. Mammographic imagings were taken yearly after complete treatment. Needle biopsy was done for suspected local recurrence on mammographic findings.


RESULTS
Duration of follow-up ranged from 3 years to 10 years. Seventy-three of 78 patients (93.6%) had evidence of parenchymal changes on serial annual mammography. Twenty-eight of 73 patients (38.4%) had diffuse dense parenchymal changes. Twenty-four of 73 patients (32.9%) had focal fibrotic changes, and 21 of 73 patients (28.8%) had evidence of parenchymal distortion with a mass like lesion. Skin thickening was found in 54 of 78 patients (69.2%). Calcification was the least change, found in only 2 of 78 patients (2.6%). Nine of 78 patients (11.5%) had mammographic signs of local recurrence. Seven of 9 patients had suspected local recurrence by needle biopsy. Four of seven patients had proven local recurrence on mastectomy, and 3 of 7 patients (42.8%) had false positive on mastectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Annual mammography in post breast conserving treatment showed beneficial results for detection of recurrent cancer
Tangkaratt
Saipin
S
National Cancer Institute, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies