Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 10, Issue 1 1-7, Copyright © 1991 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasonographic posttreatment follow-up of breast cancer patients
C. Balu-Maestro, J. N. Bruneton, A. Geoffray, C. Chauvel, A. Rogopoulos and O. Bittman
Service de Radiodiagnostic, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France.
Clinical, radiographic (mammograms), and ultrasonographic data were
compared retrospectively for 171 patients to evaluate the utility of
ultrasound for the follow-up of breast cancer patients treated medically or
by conservative surgery. When used to follow patients treated medically by
induction or exclusive chemotherapy, ultrasonography accurately quantified
tumor and nodal regression. After conservative surgery, sonograms are ideal
to diagnose (and sometimes to treat) early complications such as hematoma,
lymphocele, and abscess. Ultrasonography was more sensitive than
mammography for the detection of late complications and benign lesions, but
was insufficient for the detection of recurrent disease (95.5% sensitivity
for radiography vs 90% for ultrasonography). After radical surgery and
breast reconstruction, ultrasonography is the only procedure required for
follow-up of patients with breast implants because it can determine the
size and penetration of cutaneous recurrences. The fact that 30% of
patients treated by lumpectomy and irradiation ultimately develop malignant
or benign abnormalities justifies systematic ultrasonography for the
follow-up of treated breast cancers. All sonographically demonstrable
abnormalities warrant ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy.
