ASO Author Reflections: Use of Breast Imaging After Treatment for Locoregional Breast Cancer (AFT-01)

Excerpt

Clinical guidelines recommend annual mammography aimed at early detection of in-breast recurrences or new primary breast tumors, starting 6–12 months after radiation therapy (RT) or 12 months after the last screening mammogram of the contralateral breast.1 Breast cancer survivors, particularly women with a diagnosis of stage 2 or 3 cancer, have an increased risk of future breast cancer events despite significant advances in locoregional and systemic therapy.2 Observational studies describing variation in the receipt of surveillance mammography are mostly single-institution series or studies restricted to an older Medicare population, thereby limiting generalizability.3 This study investigated patterns of utilization and factors associated with use of screening mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after treatment with curative intent for stages 2–3 breast cancer in a diverse cohort of patients drawn from a large number of hospitals across the United States. Although guidelines do not currently recommend breast MRI for surveillance, we included MRI use given increasing utilization and to investigate current practice. …