Effectiveness of routine follow-up in the detection of contralateral breast cancer in young women with early breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of routine follow-up to detect contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in young women.


METHODS
We used the data of the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, which covers the southern part of the Netherlands. Between 1988 and 2005, 1451 women aged ≤ 40 years were treated for early-stage breast cancer with breast-conserving treatment or mastectomy.


RESULTS
Of the 94 patients who developed CBC 17 had an in situ carcinoma. Fifty-seven CBCs (61%) were diagnosed more than 5 years after the primary tumour. Forty-two CBCs (45%) were detected during routine follow-up visits, while 52 (55%) presented between two visits. Of the CBC diagnosed between two visits, only 27 (60%) were visible on mammography. Of the invasive CBCs more than 25% was larger than 2 cm in diameter and in 34% positive axillary lymph nodes were found.


CONCLUSIONS
These figures indicate that routine follow-up does not guarantee early detection of CBC in young women with breast cancer.
Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
M S
MS
Koedijk
M J C
MJ
van der Sangen
P M P
PM
Poortmans
P
P
van Mierlo-Jansen
W T
WT
van den Broek
B H M
BH
Storck
A C
AC
Voogd
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008327:Mammography; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Breast carcinoma; Breast-conservation; Contralateral; Mastectomy; Radiotherapy; Young women