Bilateral breast cancer: early detection with mammography

Radiology. 1995 Aug;196(2):427-31. doi: 10.1148/radiology.196.2.7617856.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the contribution of mammography in the detection of cancer in the contralateral breast in women with bilateral breast cancer.

Materials and methods: Mammograms and clinical records of 77 patients with bilateral breast cancer were reviewed in a retrospective study.

Results: The contralateral cancer was detected at mammography in 68 of 77 patients (88%) and identified at mammography alone in 50 patients (65%). No statistically significant differences in either mammographic detection rates or stage of the contralateral cancer were noted in patients younger than 50 years (n = 25) compared with those 50 years of age or older (n = 52). Cancers detected at annual screening mammography were of lower stage than cancers in unscreened patients. In the screened group, 41% of tumors were ductal carcinoma in situ alone and 23% were stage II or III, compared with 22% and 50%, respectively, in the unscreened group.

Conclusion: Mammographic examination and follow-up in patients with unilateral breast cancer allow detection of the majority of contralateral breast cancers and earlier stage cancers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Carcinoma in Situ / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma in Situ / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma in Situ / prevention & control
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / prevention & control
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography / statistics & numerical data
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / epidemiology
  • Physical Examination
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors