Mammographic appearance of recurrent breast cancer after breast conservation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the mammographic appearance of recurrent breast cancer to the primary tumor in patients treated with breast conservation therapy.


METHODS
The charts of women with American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage I or II breast cancer who underwent breast conservation therapy between 1977 and 2001 at our institution were reviewed. A total of 132 patients were diagnosed with local recurrence.


RESULTS
The mammographic appearance of the local recurrence often varied from the appearance of the original breast cancer. This was especially true for women who had mammographically occult primary breast cancer. In these women, the recurrence was detected mammographically 76.9% of the time.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the variable appearance of the local recurrence after breast conservation therapy, any suspicious finding needs to be carefully evaluated regardless of the mammographic appearance of the original tumor.
Weinstein
Susan P
SP
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. susa.weinstein@uphs.upenn.edu
Orel
Susan G
SG
Pinnamaneni
Niveditha
N
Tchou
Julia
J
Czerniecki
Brian
B
Boraas
Marcia
M
Rosato
Ernest
E
Solin
Lawrence J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome