Palpable cancers often detected at smaller size in breasts with implants; higher rates of mastectomy
WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Method of diagnosis, stage, and treatment are not affected by type of breast implant or anatomic location, according to research published in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Michael Sosin, M.D., from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and colleagues retrospectively reviewed 48 cases of patients with prior breast augmentation undergoing breast cancer treatment from 2000 to 2013 and 302 propensity-matched controls.
The researchers found that palpable lesions were detected at a smaller size in augmentation patients (P < 0.001) and fewer lesions were detected by screening mammography in augmented patients (P = 0.010). For diagnosis, patients with implants were more likely to undergo an excisional biopsy (P < 0.001) rather than image-guided core needle biopsy (P < 0.001). There was a trend toward earlier staging in augmented patients (P = 0.073). There were higher mastectomy rates and lower rates of breast-conservation therapy (P = 0.023) among augmented patients. Method of diagnosis, stage, and treatment were not affected by implant fill type or anatomic location.
“Our findings may have important implications for patient counseling regarding breast augmentation and breast cancer detection,” Sosin said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the medical device industry.
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