The aftercare of breast carcinoma. The value of plain thoracic radiography, abdominal sonography and mammography

Abstract

7865 follow-up examinations were performed on 420 patients who had had surgery for carcinoma of the breast; there were 2755 radiographs of the chest, 2660 sonographic examinations of the upper abdomen and 2450 contralateral mammograms. The most common findings were metastases seen on the chest radiographs during the 13-24 and 25-60 months intervals in 4.7% of cases. The incidence increased with initially higher tumour stages and in ductal carcinomas. Sonography of the upper abdomen showed 4.3% of liver involvement, mostly between the second and fifth year; this was independent of tumour stage or the histology of the primary tumour. Positive mammography of the contralateral breast was found in 3% within the first three months after surgery. A contralateral carcinoma was more common in case of lobular primary tumours. There was no direct correlation with the initial tumour stage. We evaluated the routine use of these imaging procedures as part of the follow up of carcinoma of the breast in relation to the additional cost.