Triple approach method for screening of contralateral breast in treated cases of breast cancer

A prospective study of 50 cases of treated breast cancer was undertaken to evaluate the status of the contralateral breast by combined physical examination, mammographic screening and mammographically directed FNAB (triple approach method). This study was done to assess the frequency of synchronous (cancers that were simultaneously diagnosed with a tumour in ipsilateral breast) or metachronous (those that occurred in contralateral breast subsequent to first cancer and not detected at the time of treatment of first cancer) malignancy and/or presence of preneoplastic lesions in the contralateral breast. Six percent cases had palpable lump in contralateral breast (synchronous or metachronous), 10% of the cases showed mammographic abnormalities. Mammographically directed FNAB showed atypical/suspicious smears in 8% cases and malignancy in 2% cases, of which infiltrating duct carcinoma was the most frequent. In high-risk group patients triple approach method proved to be extremely important screening procedure for early detection of abnormalities in contralateral breast and helps in significantly reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with it.