Mammographic features, predictors of early ipsilateral breast tumour recurrences?

Mammograms from 69 patients with Stage I/II breast cancer, operated on using breast-conserving surgery between 1987-1990 were blindly re-evaluated in order to predict retrospectively ipsilateral breast tumour recurrences. The study cohort was divided into two groups of 34 and 35 patients. Each group was matched according to age, the time at risk and to presence or absence of an ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence. The mammographic reinterpretation was performed by two radiologists that correctly predicted an ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence in 81%. Mammographic characteristics, such as diffuse microcalcifications, multifocality, solitary densities, especially of stellate type near the nipple and/or spicula in the vicinity of the retroareolar region were more often associated with an ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence. Data from this limited series suggest that certain mammographic features seem to correlate with the ability of the tumour to recur locally. Hence, mammography can play a prognostic role in deciding the treatment of choice in operable breast cancer.