Outcomes of surveillance mammography after treatment of primary breast cancer: a population-based case series

Abstract

SM was associated with a significant reduction in the hazard for breast cancer death. Among women who experienced CRICB, the reduction was of borderline significance, and the reduction was not significant among women who experienced CPBC.

Population-Based Longitudinal Study of Follow-Up Care for Breast Cancer Survivors

“…7,8 Although there has never been a formal evaluation, 24 several observational studies point to the value of these mammograms to detect locoregional recurrence 6 , which may result in reduced breast cancer mortality. 5,9,25 Our findings are consistent with others showing underuse of surveillance mammograms in each year, age group, and income quintile. 26,27 Specifically, studies have consistently found that older age is associated with fewer than recommended mammograms.…”

“…We endeavored to distinguish between diagnostic versus surveillance imaging by including in the latter category only those tests performed annually so that only one imaging test per year was counted as surveillance. 5 However, this approach has the potential that a proportion of tests are misclassified, likely leading to an underestimation of surveillance testing. 12 Other investigators who have compared claims data with medical record review found good agreement between classification of surveillance care from claims data as compared with medical record review, 10 and found that the majority of testing is indeed for surveillance rather than diagnostic testing (82% versus 11%).…”

“…Studies have evaluated aspects of follow-up such as intensive surveillance strategies versus minimalist strategies, 1,2 primary care versus specialist-based strategies, 3,4 and mammography surveillance. 5,6 These studies have led to some degree of consistency in guideline recommendations on follow-up. 7,8 However, little is known about how follow-up care is provided to breast cancer survivors at a population level, or the extent to which this is consistent with guideline recommendations.…”

Annual Surveillance Mammography After Early-Stage Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Mortality

“…The two most recent retrospective cohort studies examining the association bet ween participation in asm and bca mortality reported adjusted hrs (hr: 0.82; 95% cl: 0.56, 1.19 8 ; and hr: 0.84; 95% cl: 0.78, 0.82 9 ) similar to those in the present study (hr: 0.86; 95% cl: 0.63, 1.16). The lower participation in asm among women who did not receive adjuvant rt, among older women, among women with higher scores on the adapted Charlson comorbidity index, and among women with a lower socioeconomic status was described in our work with an earlier cohort of women diagnosed with bca during 1991-1993 20,21 . A practical implication of that observation might be that such women require more encouragement to participate in asm.…”

The value of surveillance mammography of the contralateral breast in patients with a history of breast cancer

“…Our findings indicate that the 11% improvement in sensitivity in compliant patients is unlikely to be sufficient to reduce mortality among women with MCBC, which is in line with another study. 31 The same analysis should be repeated with a much larger cohort of women. A generally considered disadvantage of routine followup is that patients who had suspicious symptoms wait for their clinic visit rather than going to hospital, which probably worsens prognosis.…”