Preoperative bone scans. Use in women with early breast cancer.

Abstract

Strontium nitrate Sr 87m bone scans were made preoperatively in a group of women with suspected breast cancer, 35 of whom subsequently underwent radical mastectomy. In 3 of the 35 (9%), the scans were abnormal despite the absence of clinical or roentgenographic evidence of metastatic disease. All three patients has extensive axillary lymph node involvement by tumor, and went on to have additional bone metastases, from which one died. Roentgenograms failed to detect the metastases in all three. Occult bone metastases account in part for the failure of radical mastectomy to cure some patients with breast cancer. It is recommended that all candidates for radical mastectomy have a preoperative bone scan.

• Authors: N D Charkes, L S Malmud, T Caswell, L Goldman, J Hall, V Lauby, W Lightfoot, W Maier, G Rosemond
• Journal: JAMA (JAMA) Vol. 233 Issue 6 Pg. 516-8 (Aug 11 1975) ISSN: 0098-7484 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1173664 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Nitrates
• Strontium Radioisotopes

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Bone Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging)
• Breast Neoplasms
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Mammography
• Mastectomy
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Nitrates
• Preoperative Care
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Strontium Radioisotopes
• Thermography
• Time Factors