This article is part of the supplement: Royal College of Radiologists Breast Group Annual Scientific Meeting 2011
Comparison of mammographic findings and need for ultrasound and biopsy in women undergoing wide local excision and either intraoperative radiotherapy or external beam whole breast irradiation
Breast Cancer Research 2011, 13(Suppl 1):P14 doi:10.1186/bcr2966
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/13/S1/P14
| Published: | 4 November 2011 |
© 2011 Romsauerova et al.
Introduction
TARGIT-A is a recent prospective randomised multicentre controlled trial comparing intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and external beam whole breast irradiation (EB). The aim of this study was to compare localised and generalised findings at follow-up mammography and the need for interventions such as ultrasound and biopsy between women in the two treatment arms from a single recruiting centre.
Methods
We have compared the 61 women who received IORT alone with the 63 women who received EB alone. All mammograms were reviewed by radiologists blinded to the treatment received. The focal soft tissue appearance was classified. The presence of generalised skin thickening and increased density was recorded. The performance of ultrasound and/or biopsy was recorded.
Results
The number of follow-up mammograms and length of follow-up was similar in both groups (2.46 IORT vs. 2.09 EB and 3.27 years IORT vs. 3.0 years EB). There was no difference in the mammographic appearance of the postoperative site between the two groups. However, generalised skin thickening and increase in density were more common in the EB group compared with the IORT group (20 of 63 (37%) vs. 10 of 61 (16%), P = 0.04 and 20 of 63 (37%) vs. 5 of 61 (8%), P = 0.001, respectively). Ultrasound at follow-up was more frequent in the IORT group compared with the EB group (15 of 61 (25%) vs. 7 of 63 (11%), P = 0.049).
Conclusion
Generalised reactions on mammography are more common following EB compared IORT. However, follow-up ultrasounds were more frequent in the IORT group.