skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Twenty-year incidence and patterns of contralateral breast cancer after breast conservation treatment with radiation

Journal Article · · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
  2. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)

Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of contralateral breast cancer (CLB) after treatment for early-stage breast cancer with breast-conserving treatment (BCT), and to observe patterns of CLB presentation. Methods: Medical records of 1,801 women treated for unilateral AJCC Stage 0-II breast cancer with BCT between 1977 and 2000 were analyzed as a retrospective cohort. Results: The incidence of any CLB at 20 years was 15.4%. The annual risk of developing any CLB remained constant at approximately 0.75% per year after treatment. The median time to any CLB was 8.2 years (range, 0.5-26.5 years). No difference in incidence of CLB was demonstrated in patients with primary invasive carcinoma vs. DCIS (p = 0.84). The majority of patients (83%) developing CLB tumors developed invasive disease. The risk of developing an invasive CLB did not differ significantly for patients with DCIS vs. those with primary invasive carcinoma (p = 0.20). The method of detection of the primary tumor (mammography vs. physical examination) was not predictive of detection of the CLB (p = 0.20). Finally, the location of CLB tumors was not affected by that of prior tumors (p 0.82). Conclusions: The risk of development of CLB persists for at least 20 years after treatment for early-stage breast cancer. CLB tumors are frequently invasive, and their location is not influenced by location of prior tumors. Mammography and physical examination remain essential after BCT for detection of a contralateral breast cancer, regardless of the method of detection of the primary tumor.

OSTI ID:
20850251
Journal Information:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 66, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.07.009; PII: S0360-3016(06)01185-0; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Factors associated with local recurrence and cause-specific survival in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy
Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2005 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics · OSTI ID:20850251

Potential Impact of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Breast on Patient Selection for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics · OSTI ID:20850251

Rates of Second Malignancies After Definitive Local Treatment for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast
Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2011 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics · OSTI ID:20850251