Utility of axillary views in postmastectomy patients

This study was performed to determine the utility of routine axillary radiography in postmastectomy patients. The records of 185 postmastectomy patients who had undergone axillary radiography were retrospectively reviewed. Of 499 views obtained, only 10 (2%) were reported as abnormal. Only one of the 10 patients with abnormal studies had a demonstrated recurrence that corresponded to the mammographic finding. This patient also had positive physical examination results at that time. Eight of the 185 patients developed local recurrences, four of which were in the axilla of the affected side. These four cases were all detected at physical examination; two patients underwent relatively concurrent axillary radiography. One of these two patients with abnormal physical examination results had a positive axillary view obtained in the same month. The other of these two patients with abnormal physical examination results had a negative axillary view obtained 3 months earlier. The authors conclude that routine axillary radiography is not useful in postmastectomy patients.