Is a Short-Interval Postradiation Mammogram Necessary After Conservative Surgery and Radiation in Breast Cancer?

The Value of Mammography Within 1 Year of Conservative Surgery for Breast Cancer

“…Lin et al looked at patients who had followup mammography within 1 year of BCT and detected 4.9 recurrences per 1,000. 23 Our study had one local recurrence and one new primary in that first year, a rate of 11.7 per 1,000. Gage et al and Recht et al both found that the local recurrence risk is initially low, increases during the first 2 years and peaks after the second year, agreeing that initial follow-up can be completed at 1 year.…”

“…25,26 It is argued that too frequent screening adds to the stressed health care system by increasing the number of follow-up imaging and procedures. 23 Early postradiation changes may not provide for a reliable baseline mammography due to the difficulty of distinguishing between scars at the surgical site, altered tissue from radiation, and true recurrences. 17,27 Additional imaging and procedures may lead to increased patient anxiety, as well.…”

Early mammographic screening after breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy: Is it necessary?

“…In their series, the rate of recurrence detected with MG was 0.35% (20). In one of the largest series with 1435 patients by Hymas et al, MG obtained within 6 months of RT was stated to be futile (11) and Lin et al also suggested that first MG should be planned after 12 months of RT (21). Also in our series, any value of early MG by means of early detection of recurrent or de novo tumors could not be revealed.…”

Evaluation of Appropriate Short-Term Mammographic Surveillance in Patients Who Undergo Breast-Conserving Surgery (BCS)

“…7 In a comparable study, Lin et al reviewed 408 patients post-BCS to evaluate the benefit of the initial postradiation mammogram. 17 The median time of posttreatment mammogram at their institution was 3.1 months. In these patients, 10 abnormalities were detected prompting biopsy, with only 2 pathologically positive for recurrence.…”