A Retrospective Study of Relapsed Breast Cancer Cases During  Follow-Up in Merjan

.Alawad, Alaa.S; A. ALkathum, Maksad.; Ahmed.A.Alwahed,

	A Retrospective Study of Relapsed Breast Cancer Cases During Follow-Up in Merjan
Medical Journal of Babylon
Article 1, Volume 6, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 130-137
Authors
Alaa.S .Alawad; Maksad. A. ALkathum;
Abstract
Breast cancer patients are routinely followed after primary treatment. Many intensive diagnostic methods (tumor markers, chest x-ray, mammogmphy, liver sonar, bone scans) are performed periodically. However, it remains to be determined how often attempts should be made to detect the first recurrence of breast cancer by these methods. To evaluate the effect of imaging diagnosis and tumor markers, we analyzed methods of detection of first recurrence sites during intensive follow-up of breast cancer patients. Of 550 female patients who had been surgically treated between march 2004 and December 2007, 65 recurrent cases had been diagnosed as of July 2008. Thirty cases (46%) had been found as a result of symptoms related to the site of recurrence and 14 cases (22%) were detected by physical examination. In the remaining 21 cases (32%), detection was by other methods: in eight cases by imaging diagnosis, in three cases based on abnormal tumor markers and in 10 cases by imaging diagnosis and abnormal tumor markers. There was a significant difference between first recurrence sites (loco-regional, bone and viscera ) and the methods of detection (symptoms, physical examination and other diagnostic methods) (p<0.0001). However, no statistical difference in overall survival after operation was observed between the 30 cases found as a result of symptoms and the 35 cases detected by physical examination or other diagnostic methods, Period of fellow up extend between 6-45 months post operative

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