Cancer reoccurrence in the conserved breast - diagnostic features in a consecutive series of 102 cases

Diagnostic features of 102 consecutive cases of cancer reoccurrence in the conserved breast are reported. The sensitivity of palpation, mammography, cytology or ultrasonography was 75.5%, 58.7%, 77.4% and 77.8%, respectively. Mammography failures were not due to natural breast density and could probably be explained by the masking effect of surgical scar and distortion. Most failures at cytology were due to inadequate sampling. Palpation should always be associated with mammography in the follow-up of the conserved breast. Aspiration cytology should.be performed incase of any abnormality seen at palpation or mammography.