Radiology, Vol 142, 77-80, Copyright © 1982 by Radiological Society of North America
The role of mammography in evaluating patients with early carcinoma of the breast for tylectomy and radiation therapy
WB Gefter, AK Friedman and RL Goodman
The value of mammography in treatment planning for early breast cancer
following excisional biopsy was studied in 38 patients. One-third of the
post-biopsy mammograms yielded information useful for therapy or follow-up,
specifically the presence or absence of gross residual tumor [11] and
detection of occult lesions in the opposite breast or axillary nodes [3].
They also proved valuable as base-line studies, since scars seen on
post-therapy mammograms may simulate new or recurrent tumor [3].
Approximately half [21] of the post-biopsy studies were nondiagnostic
because of dense parenchyma [14] or biopsy-related distortion [7]. Four
were considered falsely positive for residual tumor. These results indicate
that mammography can contribute significantly to the management of patients
undergoing tylectomy and primary radiotherapy for breast cancer.
