Mammographic follow-up after breast conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy without boost irradiation for mammary carcinoma.

Pre- and postoperative mammograms were reviewed in 103 women undergoing conservation surgery and irradiation for breast cancer stage I. The main reactions to radiotherapy were increased breast parenchymal density and increased skin thickness. Changes reached a peak at 9 months. No new changes were seen at 2 years, and most had regressed at this time. Following surgery, 71 of the patients displayed noticeable scar tissue in the surgical area, sometimes causing diagnostic difficulties. Two of the patients had a local recurrence of carcinoma, while 3 developed cancer in the other breast.