Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1992-5-6
pubmed:abstractText
In order to assess the value of computed tomographic scanning of the axilla and brachial plexus in the management of patients with arm symptoms following treatment for breast cancer, the case notes and diagnostic films of 102 such patients who underwent scanning between 1985 and 1990 at this institution were analysed retrospectively. The clinical indications for requesting computed tomography (CT) of the brachial plexus and axilla included arm oedema (52 patients, 51%), brachial plexus neuropathy (73 patients, 72%), and/or the presence of a palpable axillary mass (18 patients, 18%). Of 102 CT scans, 80 showed either no abnormality (31 patients, 30%), or axillary fibrosis (49 patients, 48%), and 22 (21%) showed radiological evidence of recurrent tumour. Only 4 of 84 patients with no palpable mass had computed tomographic evidence of occult recurrent tumour; all of these had concurrent evidence of distant metastatic disease (lung, liver, bone). Patients have been followed up for from between 1 and 15 years from diagnosis (median 5.5 years). The extremely low yield of tumour recurrence on computed tomographic scanning in the absence of a palpable axillary mass (4/84 patients, 5%; 95% CI 1-12), cannot justify CT as a method of screening for clinically occult axillary relapse in patients with arm symptoms following axillary surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer. Computed tomographic scanning in these patients should only be employed to confirm the clinical suspicion of tumour as a baseline prior to further treatment.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0936-6555
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
4
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
74-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-3-10
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1992
pubmed:articleTitle
The role of diagnostic CT scanning of the brachial plexus and axilla in the follow-up of patients with breast cancer.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article