DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST-TUMORS AFTER BREAST REDUCTION

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the diagnosability of b reast tumors after breast reductions as this is a frequent surgical pr ocedure. The data should shed light on the hypothesis that routine scr eening methods concerning the diagnosis of breast tumors prove more di fficult after breast operations. All women who had undergone breast re duction at our department between January 1989 and December 1994 were examined. During this period we counted 166 patients; the majority of them (n = 144) had undergone a bilateral breast reduction and the rest of them (n = 22) a unilateral breast reduction for various reasons. A fter the operation, all patients were checked in standardized interval s. Those who developed any kind of breast mass (n = 6) were recorded a nd examined by ultrasound and mammography, and occasionally by an addi tional fine-needle biopsy. In case any doubt about the dignity had rem ained, an excisional biopsy was carried out. In none of our patients w as it possible to get a precise diagnosis of an ill-defined mass with ultrasound. With mammography, some of the existing masses, which were really scars, mimicked different kinds of tumors, and once a carcinoma was initially interpreted as scar tissue with oil cysts. The diagnosi s of breast masses after breast reductions with routinely used screeni ng methods has proved to be more difficult as breast reductions lead t o architectural alterations of the remaining breast parenchyma. Such a lterations can and should be documented shortly after the operation so that later occurring tumors are distinguished more easily. Therefore, a basic mammography 3 months after each breast reduction has to be cl aimed in order to facilitate further breast tumor diagnosis.