The effect of ipsilateral whole breast ultrasonography on the surgical management of breast carcinoma

Mehra Golshan*, Bing B. Fung, Judith Wolfman, Alfred Rademaker, Monica Morrow

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Patients can be selected for breast conservation therapy using mammography and physical examination. Whole breast ultrasonography has been shown to identify lesions not seen on mammography. This study sought to determine how often whole breast ultrasonography changes the surgical management of breast cancer. Methods All patients with stage 1 and 2 breast cancer undergoing whole breast ultrasonography were identified. A change in surgical management was defined as the identification by ultrasonography alone of foci of carcinoma greater than 1 cm from the primary tumor site or in another quadrant of the breast. Results There were 1,385 breast cancer patients; 31% had ultrasonography. Eighteen percent of patients had abnormalities identified by ultrasonography alone. Changes in management occurred in 2.8%. The additional lesions led to four wider resections and eight mastectomies. Patients with ultrasonography abnormalities were significantly younger, and more likely to have histologic grade 2 or 3 disease. Conclusions These findings do not support the routine use of ultrasonography in all breast cancer patients. Significant abnormalities were more commonly seen among younger patients with higher grade lesions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)391-396
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican journal of surgery
Volume186
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2003

Funding

Supported by SPORE in Breast Cancer P50 CA 89018 and by the Avon Foundation.

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Breast-conserving therapy
  • Whole breast ultrasonography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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