The efficacy of intensive follow-up testing in breast cancer cases

Abstract

Background: A preliminary inquiry into the follow-up practices of Italian breast cancer centers revealed a considerable diversity of policy. It is clear that accurate follow-up examinations supply important information about the development of metastases, but there is no clinical proof that they extend survival time. It is possible that the effects of early diagnosis are only negative, extending the period over which the patient is aware of her illness and leading to over-diagnosis, overtreatment and increased health-care costs.

Patients and methods: In a study involving the national oncological centers, patients were randomized into two groups: an intensive follow-up group (6 monthly chest X-rays and bone scans) and a control group (clinical examination only).

Results: An excess of isolated bone and intrathoracic metastases were observed in the intensive follow-up group. The survival curves showed no difference between the two groups.

Conclusions: Six monthly X-rays and bone scans provide occasion for early diagnosis of intrathoracic and bone metastases without, however, influencing overall 5-year survival. Recourse to diagnostic tests only in the presence of symptoms appears to be the most appropriate follow-up procedure. However, other studies considering long term effects of early diagnosis and the effects of considering long term effects of early diagnosis and the effects of new diagnostic tests and/or treatment modalities are clearly needed.