MAMMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF RECURRENT BREAST-CANCER AFTER LUMPECTOMY ANDRADIATION-THERAPY - COMPARISON WITH THE PRIMARY TUMOR

PURPOSE: To compare the mammographic findings of recurrent breast canc er with those of the primary tumor in patients who underwent lumpectom y and radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mammograms were review ed of primary and recurrent tumors in 25 patients (26 lesions). Mammog raphic appearance, location, and histopathologic characteristics were retrospectively compared between primary and recurrent tumors. RESULTS : Primary and recurrent tumors were mammographically similar in 21 (81 %) of the 26 lesions. Of 14 primary tumors with calcifications, 12 (86 %) recurred with calcifications, and of the 12 masses, nine (75%) recu rred as masses. Recurrent tumors that occurred in the lumpectomy quadr ant were more often similar in mammographic appearance to the primary tumor (20 of 22 tumors) than those in other quadrants (one of four tum ors) (P < .02). CONCLUSION: After conservative treatment of breast can cer, the majority of recurrent tumors appear to be mammographically si milar to primary tumors. It is prudent to review preoperative mammogra ms during follow-up of patients after lumpectomy and radiation therapy .