The Value of Physical Examination in Breast Cancer Surveillance
Kettunen, Anette (2025-04-15)
The Value of Physical Examination in Breast Cancer Surveillance
(15.04.2025)
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
suljettu
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025042530760
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025042530760
Tiivistelmä
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Most patients receive curative treatment and transition to follow-up care after treatment, resulting in a significant number of women under surveillance. The primary purpose of follow-up is to detect cancer recurrence as early as possible. Most treatment guidelines recommend regular physical examinations by a physician to identify recurrences. The aim of this study was to investigate the initial detection methods for local breast cancer recurrences at a single tertiary university hospital responsible for managing recurrent breast cancer cases in a district of 500,000 inhabitants from 2010 to 2022.
The study included all patients with loco-regional breast cancer recurrence, without prior distant metastasis between 2010 and 2022. The method of recurrence detection was recorded and patients with recurrences detected by physical examination were evaluated in detail.
During the study period, more than 10 000 patients with over 100 000 person-years were surveilled. In total 574 patients with loco-regional recurrence were included in the final analysis. Only six recurrences were detected by physical examination. Additionally, ten patients detected a palpable recurrence themselves, but the physician was unable to detect it during the examination.
Palpation as a part of surveillance for local breast cancer recurrence provides minimal value. The recommendation of routine physical examination as a surveillance strategy for breast cancer should be reconsidered.
The study included all patients with loco-regional breast cancer recurrence, without prior distant metastasis between 2010 and 2022. The method of recurrence detection was recorded and patients with recurrences detected by physical examination were evaluated in detail.
During the study period, more than 10 000 patients with over 100 000 person-years were surveilled. In total 574 patients with loco-regional recurrence were included in the final analysis. Only six recurrences were detected by physical examination. Additionally, ten patients detected a palpable recurrence themselves, but the physician was unable to detect it during the examination.
Palpation as a part of surveillance for local breast cancer recurrence provides minimal value. The recommendation of routine physical examination as a surveillance strategy for breast cancer should be reconsidered.