Mammography in the pre-operative assessment and post-operative surveillance of patients treated by excision and radiotherapy for primary breast cancer.

To evaluate the place of mammography in the selection of patients for excision and radiotherapy for primary breast cancer a detailed analysis of pre-operative mammograms was performed in (i) a study group of 37 patients who developed local recurrence; (ii) a matched control group with a median local recurrence free survival of 57 months. There were significantly more multifocal tumours in the study group. Tumours were significantly larger (P = 0.02) and closer to the nipple (P = 0.008) in the study group compared to the control group. Regular follow-up mammograms were available in 26 of the study group. Twenty-one patients had mammographic evidence of either residual or recurrent tumour. We conclude that pre-operative mammography is essential in the selection of patients for excision and radiotherapy. Following treatment, mammography is useful in detecting residual or recurrent disease.