The value of postexcision preradiation mammography in patients with early-stage breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit of postexcision preradiation mammography for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The records of 101 patients (103 breasts) with either ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or early invasive breast cancer diagnosed based on microcalcifications on a mammogram between January 1999 and December 2001 at our institution were reviewed. Sixty-one patients had a postexcision preradiation mammogram, and 42 patients did not have a mammogram until the completion of radiation. Of the 61 patients who had a preradiation mammogram, 1 patient (2%) was found to have residual microcalcifications after the completion of chemotherapy. A core biopsy revealed DCIS, and a wide excision revealed no additional abnormalities. Of the 42 patients who underwent a postradiation mammogram, 1 patient had calcifications in the same quadrant as her original biopsy. A wide excision revealed only sclerosing adenosis. For women who receive chemotherapy before the initiation of radiation, a preradiation mammogram ought to be considered because there will frequently be a 6-month interval from the patient's lumpectomy to the initiation of radiation. However, for women scheduled to start radiation within an interval of 4 months or less, our data do not support the routine use of postexcision preradiation mammography. Although we recognize that our data may not be representative of the community at large, our observations do not support the routine use of postexcision preradiation mammography in women with small breast cancers.